1997
Can Working With Lead Harm Children?
Workers exposed to lead on the job may leave work with lead dust on their hands and clothing. This lead may get into their cars and homes.
The number of days that a worker is exposed to lead is important. Workers with regular exposure to lead may place their children at higher risk.
Small children may put their hands on floors and other surfaces that have lead on them and then put their hands in their mouths.
Children who swallow lead dust may have problems learning and paying attention. Lead can harm the brain, nerves and kidneys. Lead is especially dangerous for children under six years of age.
Most children with lead poisoning do not look or act sick. The only way to know if a child has lead poisoning is to do a blood test. Blood lead tests are available through a doctor or the local health department.
Children of lead-exposed workers should have blood lead tests done more frequently than other children. Children with blood lead levels below 10 microgram (µg)/deciliter (dL) should be retested every six months. Those with blood lead levels between 10 and 14 µg/dL should be retested every three months. Children with blood lead levels above 15 µg/dL need to be treated at a special lead treatment center or by a doctor experienced in treating children with elevated blood lead levels.
If a child of a lead-exposed worker has a blood lead level above 10 µg/dL, workers should have their homes and if possible their cars tested for lead. Workers should make certain there are no other sources of lead in their homes, such as solder or paint chips, that may be affecting their children.
How can workers and employers protect workers families from lead poisoning?
Every construction workplace where a worker is exposed to lead is covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Construction Lead Standard.
Certain OSHA rules apply to workers exposed to more than 50 µg of lead per cubic meter (m3) of air over a work day. These rules state that the employer must:
- Provide clean protective work clothing at least once a week. If lead exposure is above 200 µg/m3, employers must provide clean clothing daily. The employer must have work clothing laundered.
- Provide clean change areas and require that workers change into clean clothes and shoes before they leave work. Any protective clothing or equipment that is required to be worn during the work shift may not leave the worksite.
- Provide separated lockers for storage of street clothes and shoes and work clothes. Lockers used for street clothes should never be used for work clothes.
- Provide lunchrooms or eating areas that are not contaminated with lead.
- Provide handwashing stations. Workers must wash their hands and face before eating, drinking, smoking or applying cosmetics. Workers must either change their work clothing or vacuum off their clothing before eating.
- Provide showers if possible. Where showers are provided, the worker must shower at the end of the work shift. If showers are not provided, employers must be sure that workers wash their face and hands before they leave the work site.
In addition to the rules specified in the OSHA lead standard, we recommend that lead-exposed workers who cannot shower before leaving work, shower and wash their hair as soon as they get home.
NIOSH conducted a study of a bridge repair site that included workers with lead exposures both below and above 50 µg /m3 of air. We found that even workers with low exposures to lead (below 50 µg/m3 of air) had high lead levels in their cars and homes. This suggests that workers with low lead exposures may reduce lead exposure to their families by following the rules from the OSHA standard where possible.
If you are exposed to lead and your employer does not launder your clothing, you should take the clothing home in a plastic bag and put the clothing directly into the washing machine. You should use detergents to remove lead. Other clothing should not be washed with the work clothing. After clothes are washed, the empty machine should be run through the wash cycle to remove any lead dust.
Cleaning Your Car and Home
It is better to prevent lead contamination than to remove it. In addition to the recommendations to change clothes and shower before leaving work, close the windows of your car at work to protect the inside from lead dust in the air.
It is very difficult to remove lead dust from upholstery and carpets. Limit your child's contact with lead-contaminated upholstery, carpets and cars. If possible, replace lead contaminated stuffed furniture and carpets in the rooms where your children play.
Workers may follow these steps to remove the lead dust from homes and cars:
- A high efficiency particulate (HEPA) vacuum cleaner removes lead dust without blowing it into the air. Employers should buy or rent a HEPA vacuum cleaner so employees can remove lead dust from their homes and cars.
- Washable surfaces in the cars and homes of workers should be washed with detergents to remove lead dust.
Always remember that the most important way to protect children from lead poisoning is to not get lead dust in your car or home in the first place.
Other measures that can help protect children from lead poisoning are:
- Keep children from chewing on painted surfaces or eating paint chips.
- Children should eat regular meals and foods high in calcium and iron, like fortified cereals, greens, milk, yogurt and cheese.