Lead Poisoning in Children of Lead Workers

Children may be exposed through various mechanisms to toxins of industrial origin. Contamination of the home environment by soiled work clothing is an important mechanism of such exposure and has been associated with the development of mesothelioma,1 berylliosis2 and chloracne3 , 4 in workers' families. In the outbreak of symptomatic lead poisoning in the children of lead workers described below, the apparent vehicle of exposure was lead dust carried home on work clothing.MethodsDuring December, 1975, and January, 1976, after an investigation of occupational lead poisoning at a secondary lead smelter in Memphis, Tennessee,5 91 children and 12 wives of current . . .