Occupational Medicine Advance Access originally published online on October 18, 2005
Occupational Medicine 2005 55(8):631-634; doi:10.1093/occmed/kqi159
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Window renovation and exposure to lead—an observational study
1 Health and Safety Laboratory, Broad Lane, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK
2 Health and Safety Executive, Corporate Medical Unit
Background Renovation of windows in old houses has recently established itself as an industry. A recognizable occupational lead exposure exists, which has not been studied previously.
Aim To compare lead exposure amongst window renovators with other groups of lead-exposed workers.
Methods Using blood lead results measured at the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL), Sheffield, comparisons were made between three cohorts: window renovation workers, all male workers monitored by HSL during the period 1999–2001 and 63 male subjects involved in chemical paint-stripping of wood.
Results Both the window renovation and the wood-stripping cohorts show significantly higher blood lead distributions than the ‘all workers’ cohort (P < 0.001). A similar pattern was also found for comparison of the prevalence of subjects above the UK suspension level of 60 µg/dl (2.89 µM) (window renovation, P < 0.001; wood-stripping, P < 0.0001). Blood lead results at or above the suspension level in wood-strippers were significantly higher compared to window renovators (P = 0.034).
Conclusion Window renovation is shown to present a potential for significant lead exposure, and suspension from work under The Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002. Two groups of risk factors predominate: the well-documented potential for release of lead from old paint, and the peripatetic nature of the work.
Keywords Law and legislation; lead; lead exposure
Correspondence to: Howard Mason, Health and Safety Laboratory, Harpur Hill, Buxton SK17 9JN, UK. Tel: +44 1298 218413; fax: +44 1298 218172; e-mail: howard.mason{at}hsl.gov.uk