Abstract
Coincident with a review of the Threshold Limit Values (TLV's) for tetraalkyl lead and the incorporation of the TLVs into state regulations, an evaluation of the lead exposure control program was made at the Chambers Works. Fixed station atmospheric sampling in the tetraethyl lead (TEL) and tetramethyl lead (TML) manufacturing areas did not correlate well with either urinary excretion rates or routine medical examinations of personnel. Personnel monitoring with individually worn mobile samplers was studied as a means of obtaining valid evaluation of the highly variable ambient work atmosphere. Personnel monitoring results did not correlate with fixed-station sampling but did give significantly higher concentrations. An approximately linear relationship was found between breathing zone concentrations and urinary excretion of lead when the sum of weekly average organic and inorganic TLV coefficients was compared with the corresponding average urinary excretion. The 1967 TLV's for TEL and TML were exceeded by factors of two and four respectively before urinary lead excretion exceeded 0.1 mg/liter.