Program Aims to Reduce Lead Poisoning in Workers
UCLA is kicking off a $1.2-million, three-year program to help reduce lead poisoning among workers in small businesses.
“Since less than 10% of employers in lead-using industries test their workers for lead poisoning, we believe we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg,” said project director Pam Anderson.
Lead poisoning damages nerve and blood cells, harms the reproductive system and can be fatal, she said. It is most prevalent in ceramics manufacturing, iron foundries, radiator repair shops and scrap metal companies.
The state-funded effort, which is part of UCLA’s Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program, is “looking to design new techniques to alleviate the problem,” she said.
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