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American Smelting and Refining Company Medical Report, El Paso, Texas.

Herwitt P

NIOSH 1972 Apr:10 pages

00107249

Worker exposures to lead (7439921) (Pb) and cadmium (7440439) (Cd) were investigated at the American Smelting and Refining Company (SIC- 3369) in El Paso, Texas. Occupational and medical histories were collected and blood samples were taken from 33 workers for analyses of Pb and Cd content. No elevated values for blood Pb or Cd were found in any samples. Pb and Cd concentrations ranged from 18 to 53 and 0.10 to 1.2 micrograms per 100 grams of blood, respectively. Company records revealed 33 cases of elevated blood Pb since 1969, in samples collected from the sinter facility, blast furnace, baghouse, and other areas. The author concludes that the statistical phase was too limited to arrive at a true evaluation of the individual health hazards at this company. He recommends medical examinations which include blood and urine analyses for Pb and Cd, and that these tests be continued every 1 to 6 months during employment, depending upon the location of work performed. Protective respirators should be provided and maintained and ambient air Pb contaminants should be reduced.

NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Survey; Field-Study; Region-6; Health-surveys; Air-contamination; Industrial-processes; Control-methods; Occupational-health-programs; Metallic-poisons; Heavy-metals; Metallic-dusts; IWS-56-20a;

7439-92-1; 7440-43-9;

19720401

1972

PB82-112731

A02

IWS-56-20a

DSHEFS;

3369;

NIOSH, Division of Surveillance, Hazards Evaluations and Field Studies, 10 pages, 10 references

TX;