Chronic occupational exposure to lead: an evaluation of the health of smelter workers.

After receiving reports of lead poisoning in two workers at a secondary lead smelter, we evaluated the health status of 38 current smelter workers and 87 of their household contacts by questionnaires, physical examinations, and laboratory tests. Fatigue, cough, and diarrhea were the most frequent symptoms in plant employees; each occurred in at least a third. The most frequent physical finding, hand tremor, occurred in 10 of 33 plant employees. Twelve employees had blood lead concentrations at or above 80 microgram/100 ml, and 17 others had blood lead concentrations at or above 60 microgram/100 ml. All physical signs possibly due to excess lead absorption were manifested by employees with blood lead levels of 60 microgram/100 ml or greater, with one exception. Household contacts of employees had few symptoms suggestive of excess lead absorption.