WOEMA is a regional component of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM), and is dedicated to high quality medical care and ethical principles governing the practice of occupational medicine.
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Journal Watch Library
Lead exposure has long been recognized to have toxic effects on multiple human biologic systems, yet it is commonly used in many industries both in developed and developing nations. Occupational exposure standards for lead in the United States were established in the 1970’s and require removal from exposure at blood lead levels in the range of 50-60 μg/dL. Research in recent years has shown that human health effects are likely to occur at lower levels and that more protective standards are advisable.
Potential effects from low-level exposures include adverse impacts on female reproductive outcomes, cognitive development of children of exposed female workers, kidney function, and hypertension. There is evidence for increased rate of miscarriage of pregnancy and developmental delay of children at maternal blood lead levels as low as 5 to 10 μg/dL. Many studies have now confirmed a correlation between increasing systolic and diastolic blood pressures and elevated body burden of lead. While lead nephropathy from high dose exposure is well known, there are also indications of effects on kidney function from chronic low-dose exposure.
Taken together, these research results indicate a public health concern for occupational lead exposure at low levels. Given the wide range of industries that use lead worldwide, these findings call for increased efforts to prevent lead exposure, to lower occupational exposure levels, and to monitor exposed workers closely with blood lead testing. Recommendations include worker removal from lead exposure at blood lead levels ≥ 30 μg/dL and possible removal at lower levels depending on pregnancy, other medical findings, repeat lead levels, and improvements in workplace exposures.
Potential effects from low-level exposures include adverse impacts on female reproductive outcomes, cognitive development of children of exposed female workers, kidney function, and hypertension. There is evidence for increased rate of miscarriage of pregnancy and developmental delay of children at maternal blood lead levels as low as 5 to 10 μg/dL. Many studies have now confirmed a correlation between increasing systolic and diastolic blood pressures and elevated body burden of lead. While lead nephropathy from high dose exposure is well known, there are also indications of effects on kidney function from chronic low-dose exposure.
Taken together, these research results indicate a public health concern for occupational lead exposure at low levels. Given the wide range of industries that use lead worldwide, these findings call for increased efforts to prevent lead exposure, to lower occupational exposure levels, and to monitor exposed workers closely with blood lead testing. Recommendations include worker removal from lead exposure at blood lead levels ≥ 30 μg/dL and possible removal at lower levels depending on pregnancy, other medical findings, repeat lead levels, and improvements in workplace exposures.