LEAD-EXPOSURE AMONG AUTOMOBILE RADIATOR REPAIR WORKERS AND THEIR CHILDREN IN NEW-YORK-CITY

Despite a comprehensive Occupational Safety and Health Administration lead standard, exposure to lead continues in many industries. This pap er describes a blood lead screening and education program for automobi le radiator repair workers and their families in New York City. Result s showed that 67% of automobile radiator repair workers (n = 62) in 89 % of the shops tested (n = 24) had blood lead levels in excess of 25 m ug/dl. The vast majority of workers had never been tested previously, and none had received health and safety training regarding occupationa l lead exposure. Although none of the workers' children's blood lead l evels were in excess of then-current guidelines, several had levels wh ich may be associated with subclinical toxicity and in excess of the r evised Centers for Disease Control guidelines of 10 mug/dl. This proje ct demonstrates that lead exposure in the automotive radiator repair i ndustry continues to be widespread and that local health departments c an assist in hazard identification and remediation.