Technical Brief | Protection Against Lead Exposure

CONTAMINANT: LEAD
ORIGIN: Moldex Technical Services Department
REVIEWED/UPDATED: August 2024

Overview
Lead is a very potent and toxic poison which can cause many serious health effects. Exposure can occur from short term (acute) exposures or long term (chronic) exposures. Lead is generally encountered in the form of dusts associated with such things as removal of lead based paints, machining or cutting of lead containing metals and from fumes created by the heating of alloys containing lead.

OSHA regulates lead exposures in the workplace including General Industry, Construction, Long Shoring, and Marine Terminals under 1910.1025, 1926.62, and 1915.1025 respectivly. OSHA requires the use of an N, R, or P100 half mask respirator (HEPA), as a minimum, when levels exceed the PEL of 50 micrograms per cubic meter.

Moldex® Solution

Moldex^® suggests the use of any of our N, R or P100 respirators for protection against lead up to 10X PEL. This would include 4700N100 series, 4400P100 series, 8000 series with 8940 with cartridges, where appropriate, or our 8990. Naturally, the choice of appropriate protection should be made by an Industrial Hygienist or qualified health and safety professional.

Affected Industries

General Contractors
Highway/Street Construction
Bridge/Tunnel/Elevated Highway Construction/Repair
Painting of Structural Steel
Wrecking/Demolition of Commercial/Residential Structures
Foundries and Smelting
Remodeling
Lead Abatement of Commercial/Residential Structures
Battery Manufacturing
Ship Building and Repair

Reference

OSHA Safety & Health Topics: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/lead/index.html

CDC Lead: Topic Home: https://www.cdc.gov/lead/

WARNING: The information contained in this Tech Brief is dated and was accurate to the best of Moldex’s knowledge, on the date above. It is not meant to be comprehensive, nor is it intended to be used in place of the warning/use instructions that accompany Moldex respirators. Outside of the USA, check with all applicable and local government regulations.