Occupational lead surveillance--Taiwan, July-December 1993.

Lead poisoning has been recognized as an occupational disease for centuries and has been linked with both severe and subtle health damage (1-3). In July 1993, the government of Taiwan initiated a compulsory system* for surveillance of elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) among workers in that country (4). All lead-exposed workers in lead-using factories are identified and included in the lead surveillance system. This report summarizes findings from this program for July-December 1993.