Chemical Sampling Information | Lead, Inorganic (as Pb)

<< Back to Chemical Sampling Information

Chemical Sampling Information (CSI)

Search (use word(s)/phrase)

Table of Contents

By Name
A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

By CAS Number

Quick Links

General Description

Synonyms: Synonyms vary depending upon specific compound (e.g., Lead oxide, Lead arsenate, Lead chromate)

OSHA IMIS Code Number: 1591

Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 7439-92-1; 1317-36-8 (lead oxide); 7758-97-6 (lead chromate); 7784-40-9 (lead arsenate); 18454-12-1 (lead chromate oxide)

NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS) Identification Number: OF7525000

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards - Lead: Chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Hazard Summary - Lead Compounds: Uses, sources and potential exposure, acute and chronic health hazard information, and more

Exposure Limits and Health Effects

Exposure Limit	Limit Values	HE Codes	Health Factors and Target Organs
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) - General Industry See 29 CFR 1910.1025 Note: OSHA considers "lead" to mean elemental lead, all inorganic lead compounds, and a class of organic lead compounds called lead soaps. This standard does not apply to other organic lead compounds. Note: Large nonferrous foundries (20+ employees) are required to achieve the PEL of 0.05 mg/m³ by means of engineering and work practice controls. Small nonferrous foundries (<20 employees) are required to achieve an 8-hour TWA of 0.075 mg/m³ by such controls.	0.05 mg/m³ TWA 0.03 mg/m³ Action Level	HE3	Nephrotoxicity
		HE5	Reproductive hazards
		HE7	Cumulative neurologic effects
		HE12	Cumulative blood effects
OSHA PEL - Construction Industry See 29 CFR 1926.62	0.05 mg/m³ TWA 0.03 mg/m³ Action Level	HE3	Constipation, nausea, pallor
		HE5	Reproductive risks
		HE7	Nervous irritability, hyperactivity, anxiety, insomnia, headache, weakness, numbness, dizziness
OSHA PEL - Shipyard Employment See 29 CFR 1915.1025	0.05 mg/m³ TWA 0.03 mg/m³ Action Level	HE3	Nephropathy, loss of kidney function, increased blood pressure
		HE5	Reduced sperm count and male sterility
		HE7	Subclinical and clinical peripheral neuropathy (muscle weakness, pain, and paralysis of extremities)
		HE12	Disruption of hemesynthesis, anemia
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) See Appendix C Note: NIOSH considers "lead" to mean metallic lead, lead oxides, and lead salts (including organic salts such as lead soaps but excluding lead arsenate).	0.05 mg/m³ TWA Air concentrations should be maintained so that worker blood lead remains less than 0.06 mg Pb/100 g of whole blood	HE5	Reproductive toxicity, nephrotoxicity, cardiovascular toxicity, gastrointestinal toxicity
		HE7	Neurotoxicity
		HE12	Hematologic toxicity
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV) (2001)	0.05 mg/m³ TWA A3; BEI	HE3	Cardiovascular toxicity, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, nephrotoxicity
		HE5	Reproductive toxicity
		HE7	Neurologic and neurobehavioral toxicity
		HE12	Blood dyscrasias
CAL/OSHA PELs (See also Section 5198)	0.05 mg/m³ Lead (metallic and inorganic compounds), dust and fume, (as Pb)	HE3	Cardiovascular toxicity, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, nephrotoxicity
		HE5	Reproductive toxicity
		HE7	Neurologic and neurobehavioral toxicity

National Toxicology Program (NTP) carcinogenic classification: Reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen [7 MB PDF, 529 pages]

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) carcinogenic classification: Group 2B [237 KB PDF, 3 pages] (possibly carcinogenic to humans)

EPA carcinogenic classification: Probable human carcinogen - based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animals

EPA Inhalation Reference Concentration (RfC): Not established

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Inhalation Minimal Risk Level (MRL): Not established

NIOSH Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) concentration: 100 mg/m³ (as Pb)

Notes on Other Potential Health Effects and Hazards

Exposure to high levels of lead may cause miscarriage in pregnant women (ATSDR 2007).
High Petrol-Lead Emission Areas (PLEA) might result in an increase in the incidence rate of brain cancer resulting from high lead exposures (Wu et al. 2012).
Lead exposure below 70 mg/100 ml reduced neurobehavioral abilities, particularly visuospatial abilities and executive functions (Barth et al. 2002).
Both NTP and IARC found limited evidence for carcinogenicity of lead smelter and battery industries, concluding that evidence from epidemiological studies is compatible with small increases in the risk of lung or stomach cancer (NTP 2010, IARC 2006).
The OSHA lead standard targets a lead in blood level below 40 μg/dL, directing medical removal at a three test moving average of 50 μg/dL.
The NTP concludes that there is sufficient evidence for adverse health effects in adults at blood Pb levels <10 μg/dL (increased blood pressure, tremor), and <5 μg/dL (kidney effects, developmental effects) as well, (NTP 2012).

Date Last Revised: 12/11/2012

Literature Basis

ACGIH: Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) - Lead and Inorganic Compounds. 2001.
ATSDR: Toxicological Profile for Lead [5 MB PDF, 582 pages]. August 2007.
Barth, A. et al.: Reduced cognitive abilities in lead-exposed men. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 75(6): 394-398, 2002.
IARC Monograph 87 Organic and Inorganic Lead Compounds, 2006 [7 MB PDF, 529 pages].
NIOSH: Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES).
NIOSH: Occupational Safety and Health Guideline for Inorganic Lead. 1988.
NIOSH/IPCS: International Chemical Safety Cards - Lead. August 10, 2002.
NTP Monograph on Low Level Effects of Lead, 2012 [2 MB PDF, 208 pages]
NTP 12th Report on Carcinogens, Lead and Lead Compounds, 2011 [196 KB PDF, 5 pages]
OSHA: Abrasive Blasting Hazards in Shipyard Employment. December 2006.
OSHA: Lead in Construction [488 KB PDF^*, 40 pages]. 2004.
OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Standards, Substance Safety Data Sheet for Occupational Exposure to Lead. 1910.1025 App A. May 31, 1991.
Wu, W.T., Lin, Y.J., Liou S.H., Yang, C.Y., Cheng, K.F., Tsai, PJ, and Wu T.N.: Brain cancer associated with environmental lead exposure: evidence from implementation of a National Petrol-Lead Phase-Out Program (PLPOP) in Taiwan between 1979 and 2007. Environ Int. 40: 97-101, 2012.

Monitoring Methods used by OSHA

Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:

sampling media: Mixed Cellulose Ester Filter (MCEF) 0.8 microns
maximum volume: 960 Liters
minimum volume: 480 Liters
maximum flow rate: 2.0 L/min
current analytical method: Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy; AAS
method reference: OSHA Manual of Analytical Methods (OSHA ID-121)
method classification: Fully Validated
alternate analytical method: Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma; ICP-AES/MS, AAS
method reference: OSHA Manual of Analytical Methods (OSHA ID-125G, OSHA ID-206, OSHA ID-105, OSHA 1006)
method classification: Fully Validated
note: If the filter is not overloaded, samples may be collected up to an 8-hour period.

On-Site Sampling Techniques/Methods:

note: On-site surface sampling test kits are commercially available. OSHA neither endorses these kits nor recommends their use. The effectiveness and applicability of these kits are the responsibility of the user.

Wipe Sampling Method:

sampling media: Ghostwipe - Whatman Smear Tab filter. Moistened with Distilled Water.

** All Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management at (202) 693-2300 for assistance accessing PDF materials.


	What's New \| Offices
Home Workers Regulations Enforcement Data & Statistics Training Publications Newsroom Small Business