Occupational Diseases: "Safe" Lead Levels May be too High

Health hazards tied to high lead exposure were believed to be a thing of the past, but it appears likely that lead levels considered to be safe may pose a threat. Researchers from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine discovered that blood lead levels as low as two micrograms per deciliter are linked to an increased risk of death. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) currently defines high blood levels as anything over 40 micrograms per deciliter.

Researchers measured the blood lead levels of nearly 14,000 adults between 1988 and 1994. In comparing the higher blood lead levels to lower blood lead levels, those with higher lead levels were 25% more likely to die from any cause and 55% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease.