Medical surveillance of blood lead levels in British workers
分析了1982年至2010年间英国工人血铅水平的趋势，发现监测人数和血铅超标比例均下降，但2010年仍有少量工人超标。
<h3>Objectives</h3> Lead exposure and absorption can lead to many adverse health effects. Statutory monitoring of blood-lead levels in British workers has been undertaken since 1982 in order to prevent the occurrence of lead-related health problems. Our objective was to describe trends in worker blood-lead levels between 1982 and 2010. <h3>Methods</h3> All British workers with the potential for significant exposure to lead are required to undergo medical surveillance including regular recording of their highest blood-lead level. Doctors supply an annual summary of measurements and numbers of workers suspended from work, categorised by age, sex, industry sector and blood-lead level. Summary statistics based on measurements supplied through 2010 were described and time trends in levels were investigated. <h3>Results</h3> In 1982, 22 217 workers were under medical surveillance; this fell to 7162 in 2010. The majority of these were male (95%); this remained broadly constant over the period. In 1982, 1.7% of males and 20.3% of females had measurements above the suspension limits (80 μg/100 ml and 40 μg/100 ml). The suspension limit for males was reduced to 70 μg/100 ml in 1986; both were further reduced in 1998 to 60 μg/100 ml and 30 μg/100 ml. Despite these reductions, 0.8% of males and 1.2% of females had measurements above these limits in 2010. The majority of individuals under surveillance were employed in smelting, refining, alloying and casting. <h3>Conclusions</h3> There was a downward trend in the number of workers under medical surveillance, along with a reduction in the percentage of workers with high blood-lead levels and suspensions from work. © Crown Copyright 2011