My partner is currently working with solid lead - i was just curious as to if this could make him sick, or would it only affect him by working with it for a prolonged period - if so, any idea how long you would have to work with it for it to affect you?? Hes a plasterer, and hes working at a hospital in the xray room, so they're putting solid lead under the gyprock (or whatever it is)
2006-06-19 20:35:03 · 6 answers · asked by kjay 6 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Gyprock is short for gypsum rock paneling (drywall) and no you have to ingest the lead before it can hurt you. If your friend washes his hands before he eats he will be fine, he also shouldn't smoke with lead residue on his hands... most people who get lead poisoning have eaten some lead somehow, either in old (very old) paint flakes or solder.
2006-06-19 20:41:09 · answer #1 · answered by eggman 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
If your partner is working with lead, he should be following federal safety regulations and guidelines. The Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) has industry regulations and guidelines that promote safe use of lead in construction.
As others have mentioned, ingestion is how lead enters the body. However, eating isn't the only way to ingest a substance. Dust particles or minute flakes of a substance can be inhaled or can get on hands or skin. As a rule, that isn't a major problem with solid lead slabs, but may be an issue with a lead paint or similar products.
I've included links, below, to the OSHA web pages with content relating to lead. This should provide the information you need to understand whether your partner is at risk in his workplace. If your partner is not provided safety equipment or resources, he should insist on them.
Personally, I believe that if your partner doesn't work with lead on a regular basis, and if his employer enforces the OSHA safety standards for lead, your partner's greatest health risks will not result from lead. All construction trades work in potentially hazardous conditions. As a plasterer, your partner may potentially ingest fine particles of plaster dust on a regular basis. He may risk falls from a ladder. He may injure himself from repeatedly lifting heavy "blobs" of plaster with one arm while laying it on the wall with the other.
None of this is cause for alarm, but is reason for caution and care in the workplace. My husband works occasionally in construction and I rely on his good judgment and ability to be safe (e.g., to ask for, and use, safety equipment).
I hope that this information helps alleviate your concerns or gives you what you need to address them.
2006-06-20 11:48:20 · answer #2 · answered by ~unfolding.fire~ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lead poisoning comes from ingesting it. And it is only a problem for children. So if they eat paint chips or drink water from houses that have older lead pipes. But simply getting it on your hands is not a problem. And as always, you should wash your hands after doing construction work.
2006-06-20 03:39:50 · answer #3 · answered by Joe K 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
form of poisoning, by the absorption of lead through the digestive tract, lungs or through the skin.Symptoms include mild diarrhea, anemia and irritability. higher level of lead will cause convulsion leading to death. treatment would take several months, prevention is a must.
our body could excrete lead,however with prolonged exposure ask your doctor
2006-06-20 03:46:37 · answer #4 · answered by az2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's only dangerous if it's swallowed, like eating from a
lead plate. Otherwise he should be pretty safe, lead being a non volatile solid(meaning it doesn't become gas very easily)
2006-06-20 03:39:16 · answer #5 · answered by asaaiki 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well it depends what leag it is if it is pencil lead its fine but the other lead could kill you.
2006-06-20 03:39:16 · answer #6 · answered by alice p 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋