Blood Lead Level Testing


Tests for Lead Poisoning

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.

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Blood Lead Levels

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.

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Blood Lead Levels Allowed for Washington Workers

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

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Exit Ecology included construction workers' blood lead level results in their survey of Washington State workers:

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Blood Lead Levels in Children

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.

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Reports of Elevated Employee Blood Lead Levels in Washington State Workers

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
*Figures are reported by 2-digit SIC if there were fewer than three WA State employers in a 4-digit SIC category (WA State Employment Security, 1999 employer units).

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