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Lead miners & smelter workers, shooters, radiator repairers, automobile & lead acid battery recyclers, leadlighters, metal & e-waste recyclers, leaded petrol service station staff, jewellers, glass & crystal manufacturers, PVC & paint manufacturers, painters, roofers, demolishers, renovators, remodellers, builders, etc, all work with lead and need to prevent lead poisoning. This global support network was set up by a community group in Australia (the world's largest lead exporting country) to assist lead workers and help spread the word on how to stay safe while working with lead and get support and treatment if lead poisoning has already occurred. Lead exposure is associated with early death from cancer, heart attack, stroke and a number of other conditions but can severely diminish quality of life both during the working life and upon retirement due to its association with infertility (reduced sperm numbers, size and motility), birth defects (in children of workers), impotency, hearing loss, balance problems, memory loss, slowed reaction time, kidney problems, joint and muscle pain etc. Lead workers may unfortunately be exposed to other toxics at work such as other heavy metals in ores, concentrates, paints, PVC and metal and e-wastes.
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