Lead in the body is measured by the amount of lead in the blood and sometimes in the bone. Parents should look at the child's environment to see if there are any sources of lead, such as old leaded paint. If a child has a level of 15 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood, parents should look at the child's home, school and play environments and their own jobs, hobbies or other situations that could expose the child to lead. A worker who tests at a 50 will be moved to a different job in the facility until his or her blood lead level falls. The employee will be counseled and monitored to keep the blood level below the OSHA threshold.
Blood testing is an important tool for people who are regularly exposed to lead.
Battery manufacturers and recyclers have education programs and health maintenance programs for their employees, backed up by regular blood lead testing efforts. Regular monitoring of blood lead levels allows a physician to track the success of lead-reduction programs. Test results are a critical tool in the employees' health management programs. In the workplace, ventilation systems and technology help protect workers. But good work habits and good hygiene are equally powerful protectors for adults in the workplace.