  |
|
|
Lead in the human body can be measured in blood, urine, bones, teeth, or hair. The most frequent test is to measure the blood lead level (BLL). Measuring an individual's blood lead level (BLL) can detect lead poisoning in adults or children. Red blood cells increase erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP) when blood lead is high.
BLL measurements show the amount of lead circulating in the blood stream, not the amount of lead stored in the body. BLLs do not show either the current, or cumulative effects of lead on a person's body.
Blood lead levels are reported in micrograms per deciliter (µg/dl), or micrograms per 100 grams (µg/100 g) of whole blood, which is approximately equal to µg/dl.
The Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) Standard for Lead in Construction, WAC 296-155-176 Exit Ecology is intended to prevent lead poisoning for most workers throughout a working lifetime.
The standard requires:
The standard recommends
Contact an occupational health care provider for more information about occupational lead testing. An Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certified laboratory must analyze blood for occupational testing.
The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Exit Ecology included construction workers' blood lead level results in their survey of Washington State workers:
The Center for Disease Control recommends that all children be screened for lead poisoning yearly. This is especially important for children between 6 months and 6 years of age.
Contact a pediatrician or public health care provider for more information about lead testing in children.
The following table shows elevated blood lead levels measured in Washington State construction workers reported in micrograms per deciliter (µg/dl) of blood. Companies that do not test their workers are not represented. Many workers who are exposed do not have their blood tested.
| SIC Codes | Description | Reports 25-39 g/dl |
Reports 40-49 g/dl |
Reports 50-59 g/dl |
Reports ≥60 g/dl |
Total Reports ≥25 g/dl |
| 36** | ELECTRONIC & OTHER ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT | 197 | 162 | 51 | 5 | 415 |
| 3211 | FLAT GLASS | 369 | 43 | 2 | 1 | 415 |
| 1721 | PAINTING AND PAPER HANGING | 265 | 72 | 11 | 3 | 351 |
| 7539 | AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOPS, NEC | 193 | 40 | 24 | 9 | 266 |
| 1622 | BRIDGE, TUNNEL & ELEVATED HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION | 118 | 19 | 9 | 1 | 147 |
| 3321 | GRAY AND DUCTILE IRON FOUNDRIES | 79 | 24 | 7 | 7 | 117 |
| 2819 | INDUSTRIAL INORGANIC CHEMICALS, NEC | 99 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 108 |
| 28** | CHEMICALS AND ALLIED PRODUCTS | 70 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 74 |
| 5051 | METALS SERVICE CENTERS & OFFICES | 63 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 72 |
| 3714 | MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS & ACCESSORIES | 48 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 61 |
| 3229 | PRESSED AND BLOWN GLASS AND GLASSWARE, NEC | 43 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 53 |
| 5093 | SCRAP & WASTE MATERIALS | 21 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 32 |
| 5531 | AUTO & HOME SUPPLY STORES | 23 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 28 |
| 3731 | SHIP BUILDING & REPAIRING | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| 3364 | NONFERROUS DIE CASTING, EXC. ALUMINUM | 16 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 23 |
From Table 2 in: Washington State Adult Blood Lead Registry Update, February 2003 Exit Ecology. Technical report 38-2003, Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention (SHARP Exit Ecology), Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Exit Ecology, Olympia, Washington.
The SHARP program collects and maintains a registry of blood lead levels by occupation and industry. The information is confidential and is drawn from laboratory results.