Summary
The philosophy underlying the use of data is as important as the data. Acceptability of risk depends on many factors, including cost, as well as on the nature of the hazard, so the setting of permissible limits should involve knowledge of cost. The mortality, morbidity, preclinical disturbance, functional disturbance, reserve capacity reduction and subclinical disturbance at currently accepted levels of occupational lead exposure (blood lead 80 μg/100 ml) are discussed. There appears to be no recent evidence nor good reason for reducing these current levels.
The derivation of air lead standards from blood lead standards is shown to involve fallacious reasoning. The use of air leads rather than blood leads for compliance purposes is indefensible for this, and other reasons. Examples of routine air and blood lead estimations in an electric accumulator factory are given.
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Presented as working paper for 2nd International Workshop Permissible Levels Occupational Exposure to Lead - Amsterdam, September 1976
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Williams, M.K. Permissible limits for occupational exposure to inorganic lead and the blood lead — Air lead relationship. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 41, 151–157 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00572887
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00572887