[Health surveillance of workers exposed to lead in the County of Arhus].

The lead directive issued by the Danish Ministry of Labour in 1985 is the first Danish work environment directive in which the expression "health surveillance" is employed. By this is understood a systemic programme of surveillance for control of the conditions of health of the workers. This article presents the results of the first 16 months of the continuous surveillance programme initiated by the Labours Inspectorate in the County of Arhus. The material comprizes 118 factories with 572 workers who were exposed to lead and a total of 730 blood lead and 78 lead dust measurements. The most exposed branches were metal foundries, repairs to motor coolers, plastic foundries, trade with products and, to a certain extent, car painting. During the initial phase of the surveillance programme, blood lead levels resulted in health examination of eight workers. In one of these, chronic dementia was found, probably caused by a combination of exposure to organic solvents and lead for many years. In another worker, a manifest acute lead poisoning was diagnosed. The literature about the toxicity of lead provides increasing documentation of effects on health even in such a low dosage-range as the current Danish exposure level i.e. corresponding the blood lead values 10-50 micrograms/100 ml. It is concluded that the lead directive has been suitable constructed when prophylaxis in the work environment employing health supervision is concerned. Similar programmes could be considered for occupational exposure to mercury, cadmium and cobolt.