Froines JR; Baron S; Wegman DH; O'Rourke S. Characterization of the airborne concentrations of lead in U.S. industry. Am J Ind Med 1990;18(1):1-17.
ABSTRACT:
Occupational exposure to lead represents a continuing problem of significant magnitude in the United States. To characterize the problem for surveillance purposes, an analysis of the airborne concentrations of lead identified in OSHA compliance inspections was conducted for the years 1979 to 1985. The five specific objectives of the study were: 1) to examine the distribution of air lead concentration in industrial environments; 2) to determine the secular trends in air lead concentrations for high lead industries; 3) to assess which job titles had excessive airborne lead concentrations; 4) to evaluate whether there was a relationship between lead overexposure and company size, unionization, or type of inspection; and 5) to investigate the prevalence of respirator violations for lead. Fifty-two industries were identified which had more than 1/3 of their inspection medians greater than the permissible exposure limit. These included primary and secondary lead smelting, battery manufacture, pigment manufacture, brass/bronze foundries, as well as 46 other industries. There has been little if any improvement in the prevalence and severity of airborne lead concentrations for the high lead industries, battery manufacture, secondary smelting, pigment manufacture, and brass/bronze foundries. Specific high exposure job titles are identified for certain high lead industries. The job title of painting stands out as an especially problematical job title across a number of industries. The prevalence of respirator violations is approximately 20% of all lead inspections.
Landrigan PJ; Silbergeld EK; Froines JR; Pfeffer RM. Lead in the modern workplace [editorial] [published erratum appears in Am J Public Health 1991 Feb;81(2):162] [comment]. Am J Public Health 1990 Aug;80(8):907-8.
Froines JR. Worksite inspection and the control of occupational disease. The OSHA experience. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1989;572:177-83; discussion 221-3.
Froines J; Wegman D; Eisen E. Hazard surveillance in occupational disease. Am J Public Health 1989 Dec;79 Suppl:26-31.
Burns DM; Froines JR; Jarvik ME. Biologic interactions between smoking and occupational exposures. Am J Ind Med 1988;13(1):169-79.
Wegman DH; Eisen EA; Froines JR. Hazard surveillance: a proposal. J Public Health Policy 1988 Autumn;9(3):335-8.
Brown ER; McCarthy WJ; Marcus A; Baker D; Froines JR; Dellenbaugh C; McQuiston T. Workplace smoking policies: attitudes of union members in a high-risk industry. J Occup Med 1988 Apr;30(4):312-20.
Froines JR; Wegman DH; Dellenbaugh CA. An approach to the characterization of silica exposure in U.S. industry. Am J Ind Med 1986;10(4):345-61.
Marcus AC; Baker DB; Froines JR; Brown ER; McQuiston T; Herman NA. ICWU cancer control education and evaluation program: research design and needs assessment. J Occup Med 1986 Mar;28(3):226-36.
Froines JR; Liu WC; Hinds WC; Wegman DH. Effect of aerosol size on the blood lead distribution of industrial workers. Am J Ind Med 1986;9(3):227-37.