The exposure to lead of workers in the pigment industry.

In order to obtain more data on the effect of inhalation plumbiferous dust by workers, a systematic examination was organized in a number of pigment factories in the Netherlands. Some experience had been gained from a former examination of an analogous nature held in factories where lead accumulators were manufactured.. Based on this examination, and after discussion in a committee on which several experts sat, a scheme for this examination was drawn up which may be divided in three parts: (a) an environmental examination of the concentration of plumbiferous dust in the various factory departments, combined with an investigation of the measures designed to combat the pollution of air, such as encasing, exhausting and ventilation; (b) a medical examination of all workmen, whether they have been exposed to plumbiferous dust or not; (c) an analysis of the duties performed by each workman, the analysis being particularly detailed where the last few months were concerned. Part (a) was carried out by the Department of Industrial Air Pollution, Research Institute for Public Health Engineering T.N.O., part (b) by the Department of Occupational Medicine of the Netherlands Institute for Preventive Medicine, part (c) by these two departments together. The Inspectorate of Factories and, in particular, the Medical Service of this Inspectorate, assisted in it. Industrial physicians were employed where possible. Mr Zielhuis will report on part (b). The examination has, at the moment, only been completed in two factories; it will be continued in other similar factories. This report, which contains only those data which seem to be of importance for the determination of the maximum allowable concentration, should, therefore, be regarded as a provisional one.