Elizabeth
Thank you for the information and the substantial effort you have obviously gone to, your assumption was correct my question was in relation to lead exploration. I can see quite a risk from contact with galena dust (86% Pb) as it will be present at every step in the recovery, transport and assaying
of the samples, as I understand it the greatest risk is through ingestion making dust a substantial problem. On the question of blood testing of personnel during the exploration phase I have no information, I know that lead mining operations test personnel on a monthly basis and think a similar risk rated testing regime would be the wisest course of action for the
protection of everyone involved. Thank you once again for your help if you do come across some more information could you please forward it on as I am still trying to ascertain what industry best practice is

Regards

-----Original Message-----
From: info@... [mailto:info@...]
Sent: Wednesday, 7 September 2005 8:45 AM
Subject: Industrial lead exposure during the exploration phase

Dear Sir,
I have never before been asked about lead exposure during exploration although I know that lead compounds can be used as explosives and powder-monkeys would therefore logically be at risk. An interesting case has also been through the courts where a powder-monkey was severely poisoned by thallium, also apparently a component of explosives.
A Western Australian case of severe lead poisoning of a gold mine's labarotory gold assayist is written up in the Denver Post  but I've never come across any cases of lead poisoning during mining exploration.
So I asked about 170 people on two e-groups who share an interest in lead poisoning of workers and the only response I received asked: "What kind of exploration?" I presumed you meant lead mining exploration but just in case you didn't, can you please send me an answer to the question so I can send
it on to our LeadWorkers egroup and Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES) mailing list of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In the meantime, please also find at ttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/LeadWorkers/files/Lead%20Code%20Paper%20by%20Winder%20%26%20Long.doc, an excellent guide to minimising exposure to lead at work by Winder and Long.
If mining exploration staff are not routinely blood lead tested, that would explain the lack of information (rather than there being no risk of lead exposure). Are staff routinely blood lead tested to your knowledge?
I hope this helps and I look forward to hearing back from you.
Yours Sincerely
Elizabeth O'Brien

 

 

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