Toxic Lead Blood Levels Focus of OSHA Rulemaking Proposal

A federal worker safety agency is considering stricter limits for allowable levels of lead in blood.

In a notice posted late Tuesday, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said it is considering revising its standards for occupational exposure to lead.

Overexposure to lead can lead to hypertension, cognitive dysfunction, and negative effects on renal function and reproductive systems, according to the workplace safety agency. Current limits are based on research done 35 years ago and more recent reports indicate there are bad health effects at levels lower than OSHA’s trigger points, it said.

To start the review, OSHA has asked ...