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Document ID (ISN)73374
CIS number 99-1261
ISSN - Serial title 1076-2752 - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Year 1998
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Masci O., Carelli G., Vinci F., Castellino N.
Title Blood lead concentration and biological effects in workers exposed to very low lead levels
Bibliographic information Oct. 1998, Vol.40, No.10, p.886-894. Illus. 16 ref.
Abstract A longitudinal study was carried out on two groups of workers engaged in tin/lead alloy welding in the telecommunications sector. The risk of exposure was evaluated by measuring levels of airborne lead and concentrations of lead in blood. The correlated effects were assessed by determining zinc protoporphyrin(ZPP) and haemoglobin levels and red blood cell count. Subjective symptoms were also recorded. Results indicated a very low risk of lead exposure during microwelding operations. While blood lead concentrations were significantly higher than those in the general population, they were significantly lower than the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's permissible exposure limit. No variation was found in the other biological parameters investigated, and no health effects were observed. During the study period, the introduction of some technological innovations led to a further reduction in lead exposure and,subsequently, to its total elimination. Blood lead concentrations gradually declined to lower values, and ZPP concentrations also decreased to normal levels, demonstrating that the effect of lead on heme synthesis may occur even at very low levels of lead exposure. Topics: biological effects; lead; determination in air; determination in blood; exposure evaluation; haemoglobin; length of exposure; microwelding; porphyrins.
Descriptors (primary) lead; biological effects; exposure evaluation; microwelding
Descriptors (secondary) haemoglobin; porphyrins; determination in blood; determination in air; length of exposure
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceItaly
Subject(s) Occupational pathology
Broad subject area(s) Chemical safety
Browse category(ies) Exposure evaluation
Welding and cutting
Lead and compounds
Inorganic substances