Technical Assistance Report No. TA-76-105, Gould and Company, Kankakee, Illinois.
Abstract
Medical examinations were conducted to determine lead (7439921) exposures among workers at Gould and Company (SIC-3692) in Kankakee, Illinois, on October 11, 18, and 25, 1976. OSHA requested the evaluation as a follow up survey after the facility had been cited for air lead standard violations about one year earlier. Zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) blood tests were performed on 278 workers. Further blood, neurological and urinary tests were performed on 109 workers with elevated ZPP concentrations or who worked in high lead exposure areas. Seventy five percent of all workers tested had blood lead concentrations equal to or greater than 40 micrograms per 100 milliliter (micrograms/mL), and nine percent had blood lead concentrations exceeding 60 micrograms/mL, but not over 70 micrograms/mL. Elevated blood pressures were noted in 40 percent, and nine and 10 percent had low hematocrits and hemoglobin, respectively. High uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine concentrations were found in 4, 12, and 7 percent of the workers, respectively. Eleven percent had abnormal urinalysis results and 42 percent exhibited abnormal neurological findings. The authors recommend that workers with blood lead concentrations above 60 micrograms/mL should be retested and removed from exposure to lead if new tests confirm the previous results, referral of workers with elevated blood lead concentrations to a physician, and that the lead exposure abatement program should proceed as quickly as possible.
Source Name
Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance Branch, NIOSH, Cincinnati, Ohio, 17 pages
