[A monitoring program and intervention regimen based on biological exposure tests for ensuring individual health protection of workers exposed to lead].

In Berlin a control and intervention regimen agreed upon by the Central Institute of Industrial Medicine of the GDR (ZAM) and the Industrial Hygiene Inspection of the Municipal Council has been applied in cooperation with the works health service for industrio-medical attendance of lead-exposed employees since 1984. The intervals for the check-ups by biological exposure tests are determined in higher-exposed employees resulting from blood concentration assays in addition to the legal regulations. The intervention regimen provides instructions for measures to the works doctor if the biological exposure tests indicate some high individual risk to health.

[Characterization of exposure to pollutants in spray painting industries using room air concentration values and an exposure test].

Occupational-hygienic measurements of the interior air concentration had been performed in a large number of spray painting plants. The analyses stated that with most of the cases the exposition risk on varnishers is characterized by aerosol concentration and the concentration of lead and chromate in it. The concentrations of vapours of solvent mixtures are of subordinate importance.

[The value of determining delta-aminolevulinic acid in urine (method II, East German occupational monitoring) as a screening procedure for the assessment of internal residues in occupational exposure to lead].

For the purpose of supervising workers exposed to lead the ratio of blood lead is determined several times per year. The withdrawal of blood samples from the vein necessary for this purpose as well as the comparatively high analytic expense make it essential to revise, whether it is possible to give up the analysis of blood lead at least partially in favour of other diagnostic measures less affecting the worker. Our investigation gave evidence of the fact, that the validity of a screening test for evaluating the blood lead concentration on the basis of the determination of delta-aminolaevulinic acid in urine (method II, AB-DDR; 2 nd morning urine) is insufficient.