Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Lead levels in Maryland construction workers

R K Sokas1, S Simmens, K Sophar

  • 1Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA.

American Journal of Industrial Medicine
|February 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary

Construction workers exposed to demolition and hotwork activities showed higher blood lead levels. These activities, along with age and smoking, contribute to elevated lead exposure in this workforce.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Myoglobin production in emperor penguins.

The Journal of experimental biology·2010
Same author

Construction welding exposures to manganese likely to exceed proposed TLV.

Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene·2004
Same author

Does nitric oxide contribute to the basal vasodilation of pregnancy in conscious rabbits?

American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology·2001
Same author

Injury surveillance in construction: eye injuries.

Applied occupational and environmental hygiene·2001
Same author

Role of angiotensin II in altered baroreflex function of conscious rabbits during late pregnancy.

American journal of obstetrics and gynecology·2001
Same author

Sibling comparison of differential parental treatment in adolescence: gender, self-esteem, and emotionality as mediators of the parenting-adjustment association.

Child development·2001

Area of Science:

  • Occupational Health
  • Environmental Health
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Lead exposure remains a concern in various industries, including construction.
  • Understanding lead exposure sources and levels in construction workers is crucial for public health.
  • Previous studies have highlighted potential risks associated with specific construction tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess blood lead levels in unionized construction workers not currently performing lead work.
  • To identify specific work activities and demographic factors associated with elevated lead levels.
  • To investigate the relationship between blood lead levels and health status, including blood pressure.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 264 unionized construction workers in Maryland.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Interviewer-administered questionnaires collected data on demographics, work history, and health.
  • Whole blood lead levels were determined via venipuncture.

    • Main Results:

    • Median blood lead level was 7 µg/dL (mean 8.0 µg/dL), with a range of 2-30 µg/dL.
    • Workers with history of demolition or hotwork on outdoor structures had significantly higher blood lead levels.
    • Higher blood lead levels were associated with older age, cigarette smoking, and African American race.

    Conclusions:

    • Demolition and hotwork on outdoor structures are associated with increased blood lead levels in construction workers.
    • Workplace regulations should address these specific activities to maintain low baseline lead exposure.
    • Further research is needed to understand the long-term health implications of these findings.