Lead still a health concern for California workers – New data report

According to a new report from the California Occupational Blood Lead Registry, thousands of California workers are still being exposed to lead and have elevated blood lead levels. These workers are at risk for serious long-term effects on their health. While employers in many industries provide mandated blood lead level testing for their employees, there is still significant under-testing in industries where lead is a known hazard. Despite this limitation, the data we collect provide valuable information. For example, among those who test, employers in some industries are much more successful than others in protecting their workforce from lead on the job.

To read the full report, see: Blood lead levels in California workers, 2008-2011 (PDF)

For more information on our work in this area, see California Occupational Blood Lead Registry

The Cal/OSHA lead standards are based on lead toxicity information that is now over 30 years old. Current medical information, including a new monograph from the National Toxicology Program, clearly demonstrates harmful effects of chronic and low-level exposures to lead in adults, levels well below those currently allowed by the standards. The CDPH Occupational Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (OLPPP) has reviewed the scientific information and made health-based recommendations to Cal/OSHA for revising its General Industry Lead Standard and Lead in Construction Standard for the protection of workers who are exposed to lead on the job. CDPH is currently participating in the Cal/OSHA Advisory Committee process for revising the Lead Standards.

Recommendations for improving the Cal/OSHA Lead Standards - web page with the CDPH recommendations, information on the newly recognized hazards of lead, and Cal/OSHA Advisory Committee meeting link

National Toxicology Program (NTP) Monograph on Health Effects of Low-Level Lead