Document V3z7yLBVm0aX7za1ODRNg9N7w
Western Electric Company
I NN CC OO RR PP OO RR AA TT EE DD *
*
222 Br o a d w a y .New Yo r k 38. N.Y.
A r e a C o d e 2 12
5 71-2 3 4 5
January l8, 1965
DR. ROBERT A. KEHOE Kettering Laboratory College of Medicine Cincinnati 19, Ohio
Dear Dr. Kehoe:
Per our phone conversation on January 8, 19 6 5 , attached are two copies of a paper which we are calling "Industrial Health Program Guidelines: Lead and Its Compounds". This paper will form the basis for our Company1s industrial health program associated with lead and its compounds.
I would appreciate your reviewing and commenting on this document. You can mark-up both copies and send one back to me. I will include your suggestions and comments in the final draft.
We appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to review this paper and we want to pay a consultation fee for this service. Please direct your bill to my attention.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Very truly yours,
FXW:KN Att
F. X. WORDEN Industrial Hygiene Coordinator
N 7977
N 7977.01
'" r>
r -j~
>*
^
4-1^ )
/: INDUSTRIAL HEALTH PROGRAM
*
Lead and Its Compounds
y. X. VORDER J. P. DUSK, M.D.
?fi } O
N 7977.02
PREFACE
!The purpose of this document ie to set forth guidelines for a uniform industrial health program 'in connection with the storage and use of lead and its compounds.
m UUSLSL
I II III
VI VII VIII
POTENTIAL $&lQ EXPOSURE# U . L ~ & > ----------------SEVERITY OP EXPOSURE - --------------------------- TECHNICAL DATA
A. Chemical and Physical Properties of Lead - B. Hygienic Standards - - - - - - - - - - - - INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE AND SAFETY CONTROL MEASURES-----
MEBIGAErCONTROL MEASURES of /%.d' \ 5 eW* 'i;-aft
A* Pre-Employment and Preplaceraent Examinations B. Periodic Examinations - - - - - - - - - - - C. Termination Examinations - - - - - - - - - -
D. Interpretation of Laboratory Results 1. Lead in Blood - - - - - - - - - - - - 2. Lea d in Urine - - - - - - - - - - - - -
E. Typical(Lead Intoxication \Syag>toa tfel-- -- F. Guide for Evaluating jgxaMpatioE^eaSl?^-^ )
1. Preplacement Examination - - - - - - 2 Periodic Examination - - - - - - - - 3 Termination Examination - - - - - - - RECOMSfeNDATIORS------------------------------------DEFINITIONS----------------------------------------REFERENCES -----------------------------------------
1 1
1
2
2, 3, h
k 5 5
5 5
6
6
6, 7 7
8 8
9
0007630
#r
wm m
A U*'
Any procesa or operation that causes lead and its 'ccompounds to become
airborne and respirable or where baSftd-coiitcgi^^^n^sak^tl-^S^tio^a^
' ` isurreenfeTgr^CwoiSiaiig,
cutting lead or lead-
containing materials, certain soldering operations employing lead,
solder coating, solder spraying and tinning operations; also, sanding,
filing or scratchbrushing of lead or solder-coated surfaces).
II
Lead Is normally absorbed under Industrial conditions in two ways:
(1) via the respiratory tract, through the inhalation of dust, vapor,
fume or mist, and (2) by ingestion. At present, tetraethyl lead is
the only widely distributed form of lead capable of being absorbed
through the skinfbut Western Electric's industrial operations do^not t\
involve J & S L u s e * ? ^
. ? . ,-fi
^^
j :/ J ) ;
\
ai ' l i '
/^
,
Since most of the cases of lead intoxication in industry result from -<** *
the inhalation of lead dust and fume|,i the severity of the exposure
depends to a large extent on the amount of lead in the breathing zone
of the worker.
therefore, should insure that
'te^tmospherc concentration of lead is kept to a minimum and that
employees working with lead and its compounds develop and practice good
habits of personal hygiene.
Many of Western Electric's processes involving lead require the metal to be heated until it reaches a molten state. At different temperatures metallic lead Canute produoed-ae -a-,dust, fume or vapor.
^five r is e -t-o Z s"
At 650F (3^3C), lead is easily oxidized at its surface and when it is skimmed, stirred, poured or otherwise agitated in the presence of air, it may release quantities of finely divided lead oxide into the air.
Between 650-900f (3k3-482C), there is not sufficient heat to bring ~ about a build-up of lead vapor in the work environment. However, as the temperature rises above this level, Up ^ > ^dangerous quantities of vaporised lead begin to be " emitted into the e n v i r o n m e n t i+ JL ^ y**
'J i, At 2777F (1525C), dangerous concentrations of vaporized lead c o m b e
present in the environment
Ua.
J ijjjouJJ , ukj-k .jj i,,
,,!
hi m m c f o p m
r-
a - Cheaical and Physical Properties of Lead
Chemical Symbol
Molecular Weight
Atonic Humber
Valence
Color
,,
Specific Gravity (Water 1)
Melting Point
Bolling Point
Fb
207 82
2, k
bluish-gray 11.3k 620P
2777F
2
B. Hyfdenic standards
1. Occupational^8-Hourl/ .
,* * 4 ^ 2. Occupe?tIonal^Act#ber---
-TV
^y
0.2 milligrams per cubic
0^ ^ ,Jr\ l
meter of air
\r y> V
V ^ oaC s Rot known quantitatively t>t - Jjr
-in " fftfltnr nf-iiwft.Mart
^
3. Tire Hazard:
Rone
^ .A .V/
IV \gjjjBB3KXAL ]aaJ>atiio A m p m m j m s m
^ ---- > i M A sm u & fk
,
--------- '
uvatov c f i u ^ j U
Engineering phtlfcil measures will depend on tE^operations 4raere lead is
used. The followilnUgK^iseUutimtmtUaBWrTi^ZzMe:f recommended control measures:
1. In setting up an operation employing lead, the process should be designed to minimize the release of any contamination jand hazardous operations should normally be grouped so as to localize the need for controls.
2 . Local exhaust ventilation should be used to control processes capable of releasing significant quantities of lead to the work environment. Local exhausts should t discharge their effluent outside the building.
n r--A*
3. Local exhaust systems should be designed to insure that
lead will not be reintroduced into the plant. The exhaust
discharge stack should be located away from freed: air in
takes. When excessive lead dust, fume or vapors are_____
generated, the effluent should be f^Sw^Tbefoir it is
discharged to the outside air.
A
~~ Q-- \A ' A regular program should be instituted for checking all ~ " 3
"local exhaust systems to insure that the^flow of air sate,
is adequate to capture the lead dust,
or vapor and carry themves J Ct<c*l *
5. Meticulous housekeeping practices shjoould be developed and enforced at all times.
A. Particular care should be used in removing and
handling powdery dross and sklmmings from solder
pots or lead melting operations to prevent the
lead from being dispersed into the air and to
minimize the contamination of bench tops^er other
"work surfaces^ Dross shoiild be removed with a
,
suitable skimming tool and placed immediately in 4 L -- -- l
* covered container provided for this purpose.
'
0
-, ''
n V
'V <
r, G
-,
3
B. Dross and solder drippings which may accumulate on -the
B e n c h e r work surfaces should. Be removed at least once
a shift By means of an approved vacuum cleaner or By
viplng with a damp cloth*
MeVe/
Aujx;^
C. Dross or solder drippings should -tpA , be brushed^onto the
floor.
>0 D. Compressed air should not Bemused in areas where lead . *
dust, fume or vapor is produced^ aa
j&Hk Jxi)
^ _
E. Exhaust from portable vacuum cleaning units should Be discharged through flexible rubber or metal hose to suitable connections to prevent the so-called "clean air" from being redischarged to the working environment at hi$3 velocity.
6. Areas and equipment that need to be vacuumed periodically? should be
smooth, regular and free of all unnecessary obstructionsy,and sharp angles.
7 . Employees working with lead and its compounds should receive
periodic instructions on the precautions, procedures and practices to be followed to control theftlead\exposurejandAthe need for adhering to established precautionary procedures. ---
Food, candy, beverages or other edibles, tobacco, etc. should
--
'not ne stored, or consumed in areas^whei'c lead, solder or other f
lead compoouunnddss,.contaminate the work area. Signs reading "FFoooodd J ^ 1
should not be stored or consumed in this area" should beacon-
spicuously .grated in all such areas. \ ^'Jj '
9. Employees should be required to wash their hands freqaenti^ before eating and particularly when leaving the work area; if necessary,
extra ,,washroom facilities should be provided.
10. Areas where lead is used should be inspected frequently to insure
that proper practices and procedures are being followed.
., 11. A ,regular quantitative air sampling program
^ v* ^;
should be eetadsEkshad'td^Tklua
the adequacy of control measures, and to determine what, if any,
changes should be made. Methods for determining the concentration
of lead in dust, fumes, and vapors are covered in references 3> 6,
7, 8 and 9
12 . g l a r i n g
The use of personal protective equipment will vary depending on the nature and the degree of the employee's exposure^.,,,/)
u-- .)/a^>-A3
---
CiJ L a*-*As -
\ q r* 1
t
k,. V
A. If Industrial Hygiene studies Indicate that an
employee's clothing is exposed to excess!ve^Xiaa *'
hearing dust, he should he provided with suitable
protective work clothing. Such clothing should he
laundered and maintained hy the Company. Separate
lockers for dress and protective work clothing should
he provided.
____
B. Shower facilities should he provided where- conditions are severe enough to require protective work clothes.
l
/^? ?
\
i J
J
4 \
1
C. A respirator may he used occasionally for short periods
of time when an employee works in,an environment that
has a high lead concentrationffio"minimiae the inhalation
and ingestion of lead dust and fumes. The respirator *
should^howev^r^ have the proper Bureau of Mines ____ vw-'ul
approval for lead) Aw. cannot he used as 0 T substitute
for a local exhaust system.
''
D. A ^lassplrarfeer^gleaning'/ maintenaiiee^and, instruction **- `.U ipr&graist should accompany -the use of respirators. Periodic reindoctrination instruction should also he provided.
13 . All personnel working at operations -with-^meaeurable exposure to
lead* should have pre-employment, preplacement, periodic and
g f terminal medical examination^
Measurable exposure to lead - exists where the air samples taken
in the work environment consistently
indicate levels greater than 0 .15
milligrams of lead per cubic meter.
(m s d x c a l .c o k t r o l j] ^ as ^
Q f,
1 _--
The ^fieHeal control teeasureft set forth in this section of the guide are
intended to assist the physician (1 ) in screening candidates for employmen in areas where lead is used, (2 ) in properly monitoring the employee who has had a measurable exposure to lead, and (3) in establishing guidelines
for the interpretation of biological-lead oomplea T L w i d t , vt
I
A* Pre-Bnroloment and Preplacement
nations
'tnu
* 4 * '^
The examination should consist of:
o*A J
u jC
1. A revle^of the candidate's past employment.SKSte, to
determine his history of lead exposures;
2. A determination of the presence of any organic diseases,
-especially those of the blood and nervous system; and
3. A quantitative^ieadA inJAQO^Uanalya&Ky to establish &
baseline for the employee.
The examining physician should evaluate the candidate's medical
history and the results of the examination in order to determine whether or not the candidate should he permitted to work in an area where lead is used.
5
B. Perlodlc-Examlnationp
Periodic examinations should he given to those employees who have W u ) ,
a measurable exposure to lead (defined earlier). The engineer
.
responsible for industrial hygiene and the local physician should u&eWtt u
deterwinitlvhat enqployees should have a periodic medical examination.
In addition to evaluating the general health of the employee, a 1" should he performed. Procedures for
this analysis are covered in references 3 and 6.
j -f&ii lufl
A complete medical examination should he given to all employees on the periodic lead examination program when they are reassigned to
other Jobs not Involving 'a-SSML exposure/or when their employment
is terminated.
C&yKiU The final examination should include a determination of the 'quantity
of lead
in the blood.
D.
L ss^ M J& ss/
< 0 s- ~/'
UjjJ*+ '
Belov 0.06 milH^ams/lCX) grams ~ `gefiBEa^ateat3^er~i5X^ ciaAr^ - =.
0 .0 6 - 0 .0 8 milligj^ams/100 grams - indication of lead absorption
warranting further observation (see Page 6, .Section F, 2b)
/ Above 0.08 milligrams/lC grans - excessive absorption and indicates
<
ii licite need to remove employee from lead
env cent. This is required because an
individual having this quantity of lead in his
blood fs in danger of developing an episode of
lead /intoxication without warning.
y/ lig9..ia,a&aft
gpp* Sernas.
0 .0 8 milligrams/liter - afe industrial exposure
0.15 milligrams/liter - potential indication of lead absorption
0.20 milligrains/liter excessive excretion'and need to recheck the blood lead level. This is required because the quantity of lead in urine varies considerably and may cause false conclusions.
0007635
E- *f
. X. l m S & & . m M uth ( g t t ; C , ~ * * - * ^
-- tr, Headache----
-3--- Weakaee&y-ganezalized or confined: to either-wrist-or-ankle-
4. Lassitude
*r
5. Loss of appetite , 6. Constipation C ^/u-xia s
^ \i 9^>i.
' -- Keranousneas .
. , r, 0 - . ,,jr:
: - r *
These above symptoms are a late indicator of lead absorption and
;
should not be observed if the recommended practices set forth in x y
this guide are followed.
'
F. Guide for Evaluating fep^ndtldri Results ^
1 . tn t t i & S P m Pyeyijn^tion
Any candidate who has the following conditions should^not ,
be placed in occupations involving l$8M exposure^ A
4 *>,V * - ' --- *-3)
-fx ^ juJ) iJp^li-4 ,
,o *.
' *
* A '^ .<* -V
neryous system
^
, r<
-,
___ / ;
VdU -
/7/y<v.0nr suo ^ u u . ir.
-*&. au.tLs,y,'-<.i^
b. J^'filstory of load"exposurea with- laber&tory- 0
'"
vc e s u lia ^ ln d lca tte g-s ign ifio a a t^ la d ^ bs e rs p t^ r--
&
' w mA
> ^^
,-r-
I2.
\i W-3ji
*J \ j ^>4
O-^
The following procedures and practices are intended to guide the physician in interpreting the results of the periodic medical examinations:
a. Refer to Section V, D, Page 5 to interpret the laboratory results. .
eMt-CJl/^XuiLun jb&i) -- b. If -atf^eaployee 's blood ^ a d . coacerptra^itS3S is between
n fjsl_ Qr.0 6 and, foiQ$italllignainB per 100 grams, his blood should
g|V^ A be checked;AintMbyljiuiAllk.vU^^Bfe<jA9btK)Ui^ratilpnfegde^ - The physician ~A)@SB&sx & r ^ ^ industrial hygienist and request a study of the employee's work environment to determine what factor may have contributed to the exposure and what changes have to be made in the work environment to reduce the lead exposure.
&
0007836
7 0 .6 4 J U M 4 J
c. If on employee has a "blood lead level7gem WH*=^BgffiF&ge6c
milligrams per 100 grams of whole blood but exhibits no
other abnormal findings, he should be Immediately \regiovidl
from further exposure while another blood lead determination
is made. If the second test also indicates a lead level
greater than 0 .0 8 milligrams, the^epdoyee should remain {,,7r l
away from further d&fi-exposure al&gb^pLaeedrdmEer^thg'
survgdcllaBocgof^
. She physician should
contact the Industrial hygienist as described in Section F,
2b, Page 6.
a. If an employee develops symptoms
intoxication
without confirmatory laboratory data, the emplpyee^ should be
removed immediately from the lead-exposure^ additional
laboratory tests should be performed,and the.emplo.vee skemia.
be plaecd under" ther-augiliance--ofra Company-physician. The
physician should contact the industrial hygienist as described
in Section F, 2b, Page 6.
If an employee develops! lead intoxication /symptoms^vith
ewsJEiwmatory laboratory data, ^the~employee should be removed
immediately fromijIU. lead environment! And placed-under 'tag
superyis^if^K Jif-,
s ic ^ G a -A ^ -^ w i l^ a s^ ^ 3 5 e <nexTS*:sE?y'
thezapeutioteSbure&. The physician should contact the
industrial hygienist as described in Section F, 2b, Page 6 .
f. The employee may be returned to his normal duties when the
following conditions are met:
>
(1) he no longer hasjlead intoxication 'symptoms ji j j.
(2) he no longer has excess^Lav^S'^oflead in his blood: S.
(3) the air analysis of the work environment Indicates that the lead concentration is below the level stated in Section III, Bl, Page 2, and further engineering controls, if necessary, have been put into operation, and,
(k) the examining physician is satisfied that the employee can be returned to his former assignment.
The examining physician should ascertain the general health of the employee, determine the e5 concentration /in the employee's blood, and should make a permanent record of his findings.
Y-.'c 0007637
8
vi m m m w i m
. The local Medical Director in collaboration vith the Industrial Hygienist
should determine the frequency of periodic examinations for employees
exposed to lead.
^^
2. The blood lead level should be used to assess vfaethaife-e-r-^-no>4=eha-empl'oyee-- However# a single blood lead determination
should not be relied upon as conclusive evidence of abnormal lead absorption isee SeetiggJT, P 2c). A consensus of authorities in the field2 * 5# 10, Hjjtate^the following tests arejftechnical procedures
y-iBasffr in diagnostic rather than preventive medicine:
coproporphyria, basophilic stippled cell count, /hemoglobin or hematocrit >J = 5 ,K
3 Operations in the Manufacturing and Service Divisions should be resurveyed periodically to determine what employees should have periodic medical
examinations because of their -4e exposure.c
4. Standard Industrial Hygiene instrumentation and test methods should be
used to estimate the quantity of respirable lead in the breathing zone
of the worker.
--
. ^ f,. j / J / r r _ >
tis.bfi',
I-"-'1 __ {1 !>' f ,
5. Provision of a^c .tJ laboratory, Should be considered so that the
concentration of lead in air and biological samplesrean be determined
for all units of the Company J&U~ZU j.-
VII IS.
DUST
- solid particles of matter produced by grinding, crushing, etc.
The size may range from 0.5 to 100 microns (l micron * 1/25,000
of an inch). 90$ of air-borne dust will/nerra'jtyj.be in the size
range of 0.5 to 5*0 microns.
" '' "
FUME - solid particles formed by the condensation of vapors. The size of the particles usually ranges between 0.01 and 0.5 microns.
MIST - liquid particles produced by processes such as spraying, atomization, or mechanical agitation.
VAPOR - gaseous state of a material which is solid or liquid at normal temperature.
KZ 0007638
9.
V I H m m asm
S? 1. Hygienic Guide Series, "Lead and Its Inorganic Compounds", American Industrial Hygiene Association, Detroit, Michigan
2. Kehoe, R. A., "Industrial Lead Poisoning", Chapter XXVI, Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology 7. A. Patty, Editor, Interscience, New York, (1962),
3. Report of Subcommittee on Determination of Lead in Air, Occupational Health Section of the American Public Health Association; "Methods of Determining Lead In Air and in Biological Materials", New York, (1955)
4. Report of Committee on Lead Poisoning, Industrial Hygiene Section, American Public Health Association, "Occupational Lead Exposure and Lead Poisoning", New York, (1943)
5 Kehoe, S. A., "Methods for the Prevention of Lead Poisoning in Industry", Journal of Occupational Medicine, 6,247 (19$*)
.6 Keenan, R. G. et al, "United States Public Health Service Method
for Determining Lead in Air and in Biological Materials",
American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, 24,1*81 (1963)
7 . Dixon, B. E. and Metson, P., "A Field Method for Determination of
Lead Fumes", Analyst, 84,46 (1959)
8. Quino, E. A., "Field Method for the Determination of Inorganic Lead Fumes in Air", American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, 20,134 (1959)
9 . "Determination of Lead in Air", Manual of Analytical Methods,
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (1953)
10. Fowler, D. F . , Personal Communication, February 11, 1963
11. Castrop, V. J., Personal Ccasnunication, November 30, 1964
12. "Lead Poisoning In Industry", Occupational Health Bulletin, California
State Department of public Health, Bureau of Occupational Health, i960
13. Kvanler, K. and Schreiber, T. P., "Lead in Blood'A Rapid Method For Spectrochemical Analysis", American Industrial Hygiene Association