At Jefferson Lab, exposure to lead presents a minimal hazard, but one that must be respected. Typical examples are the lead used in soldering and the lead bricks used as movable radiation shielding. Machining can also produce airborne lead. Although extremely high exposure to lead can cause seizures, at Jefferson Lab the realistic possible consequence of inhaling or ingesting lead is chronic. Early symptoms of chronic health effects are tiredness, troubled sleep, digestive problems, headaches, and moodiness.
Medical evaluation is the only valid way to assess effects of exposure.
This chapter describes how to handle lead at Jefferson Lab.