Leaded gasoline is the major source of dispersing lead into the human environment. When leaded gasoline is burned, it emits small particles of lead into the air, where they remain for extended periods of time. These lead particles will eventually fall out into soil and dust, creating a large amount of lead to continue to poison generations unless covered or removed. The dispersive nature of leaded gasoline and its long-term effects, the ease with which lead enters the body after it is emitted by motor vehicles, and the vulnerability of at-risk urban populations, especially children, combine to make elimination of leaded gasoline.
There are some jobs that can cause lead to be taken into the body. Lead poisoning in the workplace is entirely preventable and it still occurs. A variety of work and hobby environments expose people to lead and may result in lead exposures to the family. You may unknowingly bring lead into your home on your hands or clothes. Precautions are needed if you work construction, demolition or painting; with batteries; in a radiator repair shop or lead factory; or if your occupation or hobby involves furniture refinishing or making stained glass.
For example, a demolition worker who uses a torch to cut up a lead-paint storage tank, a smelter worker who breaks up old lead batteries for recycling, a house painter who sands and scrapes lead-based paint, a foundry worker who pours molten metal to make brass fittings, an electronics worker who solders printed circuit boards, a pottery worker who uses a glaze that contains lead and a radiator repair worker who solders radiators. contribute to sources of lead contamination in our environment. Lead can be also brought into the house from outside soil. Other places to be aware of lead exposure include: clothes from anybody who work with lead or lead paint, from lead soldered pipes, drapery and window weights, fishing sinkers, some folk medicines and some imported pottery.
A review of the regulation, incidence, and prevention of lead poisoning in the construction industry was presented. Of the one million construction workers estimated to be occupationally exposed to lead, 78% are employed in remodeling.
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High risk work associated with remodeling includes abrasive blasting, welding, cutting and touch burning of surfaces with lead based coatings. Bridge and structural beam workers are also considered to be at risk for exposure.