Lead Awareness for Non Lead-workers

Sonoma State UniversitySonoma State UniversityDepartment of Environmental Health & SafetyDepartment of Environmental Health & Safety

INTRODUCTION

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What is Lead?

Heavy metal at room Heavy metal at room temperature temperature

Bluish-gray Bluish-gray Low melting point Low melting point Pliable Pliable Corrosion resistant Corrosion resistant Can form lead Can form lead

compoundscompounds

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In what products was lead commonly used?

Gasoline (phase-out Gasoline (phase-out began 1980)began 1980)

Smelting Smelting Lead batteries (25-Lead batteries (25-

78% of all lead used in 78% of all lead used in U.S.) U.S.)

Paints and coatingsPaints and coatings SolderSolder Auto manufacturingAuto manufacturing PrintingPrinting

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History

Late 1950’s – Paint manufacturers Late 1950’s – Paint manufacturers started to voluntarily reduce lead content started to voluntarily reduce lead content in most paint for residential use.in most paint for residential use.

1978 – Consumer Product Safety 1978 – Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) limits paint for Commission (CPSC) limits paint for residentialresidential use to 600 ppm (essentially, use to 600 ppm (essentially, lead-free paint).lead-free paint).

However, lead paint for non-residential However, lead paint for non-residential use is still sold.use is still sold.

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So where is lead paint found?

Homes built before 1950Homes built before 1950– Everywhere – inside and outside (all coatings)Everywhere – inside and outside (all coatings)

Homes built between 1950-1960Homes built between 1950-1960– Probably outside, may be insideProbably outside, may be inside– Trims, doors, windows, kitchens, bathrooms, Trims, doors, windows, kitchens, bathrooms,

etc.etc.

Homes built between 1960-1978Homes built between 1960-1978– May be outside, less likely insideMay be outside, less likely inside

***Before 1978 we assume lead!!!***Before 1978 we assume lead!!!

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What is “lead paint”EPA/HUD/DHS DefinitionEPA/HUD/DHS Definition

1.0 mg/cm1.0 mg/cm2 2 5000 ppm 0.5% 5000 ppm 0.5%California DefinitionCalifornia Definition

1.0 mg/cm1.0 mg/cm2 2 or 0.5% lead by weight or 0.5% lead by weightOSHA and Cal OSHA DefinitionOSHA and Cal OSHA Definition

Any detectable amountAny detectable amount

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Where could I find lead on campus?

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Buildings on Campus & Year BuiltBuilding Date Built Last Renovated

Art Complex 1967  

Physical Education 1969

Darwin Hall 1967 2004

Rachel Carson Hall 1975

Nichols 1975

Schulz 2000

Boiler (Central) Plant 1967  

Ives Hall 1967

Stevenson Hall 1967  

Person Theatre 1989

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Buildings on Campus & Year BuiltBuilding Date Built Renovated

Salazar Hall 1969 2000

International Hall 1976 2014 

Commons 1968  

Housing

Cabernet 1972

Zinfandel 1972  

Verdot 1972

Sauvignon 1999

Beuojolais 2003  

Tuscany 2012  

HEALTH HAZARDS

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Ways in which lead enters the body

Inhalation - Breathing Inhalation - Breathing lead fumes or dust. lead fumes or dust. This is the most This is the most common route of common route of entry in the entry in the workplace.workplace.

Ingestion - Swallowing Ingestion - Swallowing lead dust via food, lead dust via food, cigarettes etc.cigarettes etc.

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Health Effects

Lead which is inhaled or ingested Lead which is inhaled or ingested gets into the bloodstream. gets into the bloodstream.

Can be circulated throughout your Can be circulated throughout your body. body.

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Health Effects

Some is excreted while some remains Some is excreted while some remains in organs and body tissues.in organs and body tissues.

If exposure continues, the amount If exposure continues, the amount stored in your body will increase if you stored in your body will increase if you are absorbing more lead than your are absorbing more lead than your body is excreting.body is excreting.

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Chronic Health Effects

During prolonged chronic exposure, many During prolonged chronic exposure, many body systems can be affected by lead, body systems can be affected by lead, including:including:

BrainBrainKidneys Kidneys MusclesMusclesBones Bones Blood forming organsBlood forming organsReproductive systems  Reproductive systems 

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Chronic Health Effects(Resulting from High Lead Exposure and Absorption

Into Body)

Severe damage to blood forming, nervous, urinary Severe damage to blood forming, nervous, urinary and reproductive systemsand reproductive systems

Loss of appetite, metallic taste in the mouth, anxiety, Loss of appetite, metallic taste in the mouth, anxiety, constipation, nausea, pallor, excessive tiredness, constipation, nausea, pallor, excessive tiredness, weakness, insomnia, headache, nervous irritability, weakness, insomnia, headache, nervous irritability, muscle and joint pain or soreness, fine tremors, muscle and joint pain or soreness, fine tremors, numbness, dizziness, hyperactivity and colic (with numbness, dizziness, hyperactivity and colic (with severe abdominal pain)severe abdominal pain)

Person is easily irritated and may become aggressivePerson is easily irritated and may become aggressive

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Chronic Health Effects

Reproductive systems of both men and women may Reproductive systems of both men and women may be affectedbe affected– Decreased sex drive, impotence and sterility in menDecreased sex drive, impotence and sterility in men

– Miscarriage and stillbirth in women whose husbands were Miscarriage and stillbirth in women whose husbands were exposed to lead or where they were exposedexposed to lead or where they were exposed

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Chronic Health Effects

Children born of parents who were exposed to Children born of parents who were exposed to excessive lead are more likely to have birth defects, excessive lead are more likely to have birth defects, mental retardation, behavioral disorders or die during mental retardation, behavioral disorders or die during the first year of childhoodthe first year of childhood

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Other Chronic Health Effects

Hypertension Hypertension Lead exposure has been consistently associated with Lead exposure has been consistently associated with

increases in blood pressure in studies conducted in increases in blood pressure in studies conducted in both workers and the general population.both workers and the general population.

Blood lead levels of less than 20 μg/dL sometimes are Blood lead levels of less than 20 μg/dL sometimes are associated with increases in blood pressure.associated with increases in blood pressure.

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Other Chronic Health Effects

Decreased kidney function Decreased kidney function Low to moderate levels of lead exposure also have Low to moderate levels of lead exposure also have

been associated with adverse changes in kidney been associated with adverse changes in kidney function. function.

This association may be even worse in people who This association may be even worse in people who have other risk factors for kidney disease, such as have other risk factors for kidney disease, such as hypertension or diabetes.hypertension or diabetes.

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Acute Health Effects

Acute health effects only appear when worker is Acute health effects only appear when worker is exposed to exposed to extremely high amounts of leadextremely high amounts of lead

Acute encephalopathy (disorder or disease of the Acute encephalopathy (disorder or disease of the brain) may develop quickly followed by seizures, brain) may develop quickly followed by seizures, coma and death from cardio-respiratory arrestcoma and death from cardio-respiratory arrest

Again, highly unusual, but not impossibleAgain, highly unusual, but not impossible

CONFIRM PRESENCE/

NON-PRESENCE OF LEAD CONTAINING

MATERIALS

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Lead Identification

Department personnel should contact the Department Department personnel should contact the Department of Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) prior to of Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) prior to the disturbance of painted surfaces unless it is known the disturbance of painted surfaces unless it is known with certainty, either through documentation or with certainty, either through documentation or testing, that the surface does not contain lead.testing, that the surface does not contain lead.

What to Know as a Bldg Occupant If building becomes damaged (floor, walls, ceiling, or If building becomes damaged (floor, walls, ceiling, or

components appear damaged)components appear damaged)– Damage includes, holes in surfaces, peeling paint, broken Damage includes, holes in surfaces, peeling paint, broken

floor tiles, contact surfaces degradingfloor tiles, contact surfaces degrading

If you want to modify anything on the building If you want to modify anything on the building including hang a picture, connect or disconnect including hang a picture, connect or disconnect anything to or from structure, place a work orderanything to or from structure, place a work order– Telephone 4-2308Telephone 4-2308

– Email seawolf.servicecenter@sonoma.eduEmail seawolf.servicecenter@sonoma.edu

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Conclusions

Buildings are maintained to minimize potential for Buildings are maintained to minimize potential for lead containing or other potentially hazardous lead containing or other potentially hazardous materials to become airbornematerials to become airborne

Processes described earlier help ensure necessary Processes described earlier help ensure necessary activities can be safely conducted by occupants or activities can be safely conducted by occupants or trained staff as previously defined.trained staff as previously defined.

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Lead Poisoning Prevention(For the Non-Lead Worker)

Minimizing exposure to lead is the key to minimizing Minimizing exposure to lead is the key to minimizing health effectshealth effects

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Could I find lead outside of campus?

If your home was built before 1978, If your home was built before 1978, it may contain lead based paint.  it may contain lead based paint. 

Hobbies: stained glass, home Hobbies: stained glass, home remodeling or painting, recreational remodeling or painting, recreational target shooting, melting lead for target shooting, melting lead for fishing weights, lead glaze in fishing weights, lead glaze in ceramics. ceramics.

Non-occupational exposures: Non-occupational exposures: backyard scrap metal recycling, backyard scrap metal recycling, leaded crystal tableware, pewter, leaded crystal tableware, pewter, cookware, folk remedies, pica, mine cookware, folk remedies, pica, mine tailings, beauty products (eye make tailings, beauty products (eye make up, certain hair dyes).up, certain hair dyes).

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Questions?