Lead in air

The working environment and atmosphere can be analyzed for lead by filtering air close to a worker s head, then analyzing the collected material on the filter for lead. Lead is usually reported in mg/m. The basic procedures used for monitoring air are taken from OSHA Instruction CPL 2-2.20B CH-1, November 13,1990, Directorate of Technical Support, pp. 1-1, 1-2, 1-3. 

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Environmental Standards. Lead in the environment is regulated in the United States because of its potential occupational impact, as well as concern about the impact lead may have on the cognitive and physical development of young children. Standards have been set for lead in air, water, and other environmental media. 

MDHS 7 Lead and inorganic compounds of lead in air (X-ray fluorescence spectrometry)... 

EPA requires that the concentration of lead in air that the public breathes be no higher than 1.5 micrograms per cubic meter pg/m3) averaged over 3 months. EPA regulations no longer... 

Information available regarding the chemistry of lead in air is limited. Before the ban on sales of leaded gasoline, lead particles were emitted to the atmosphere from automobiles as lead halides (mostly PbBrCl) and as double salts with ammonium halides (e.g., 2PbBrCl NH4Cl. Pb3[P04]2, and PbS04 [Biggins and Harrison 1979 Ter Haar and Bayard 1971]). After 18 hours, approximately 75% of the bromine and 30-40% of the chlorine disappeared, and lead carbonates, oxycarbonates and oxides were produced. 

The international, national, and state regulations and guidelines regarding lead in air, water, and other media are summarized in Table 7-1. 

Anonymous. 1987. Lead and inorganic compounds of lead in air. Health and Safety Executive Sales Point, St. Hugh s House, Stanley Precinct, Bootle, Merseyside L20 3QY, United Kingdom, 4. 

Birch J, Harrison RM, Laxen DPH. 1980. A specific method for 24-48 hour analysis of tetraalkyl lead in air. Sci Total Environ 14 31-42. 

Hodgkins DG, Robins TG, Hinkamp DL, et al. 1992. A longitudinal study of the relation of lead in blood to lead in air concentrations among battery workers. Br J Ind Med 49 241-248. 

Pascal, P., Ed., Nouveau Traite de Chimie Minerale, Vol. 13, Masson et Cie., Paris, 1960, 528. Barton A process for making black lead monoxide by atomizing molten lead in air. BASF/CAN See CAN. 

Fig. 7.7. Hypothetical relation between lead in blood (PbB) and lead in air...

Jensen, R. A. Laxen, D.P.H. (1957) The effect of the phase-down of lead in petrol on levels of lead in air. The Science of the Total Environment, 59,1-8. 

Pattenden, N.J. Branson, J.R. (1987) Relation between lead in air and in petrol in two urban areas of Britain. Atmospheric Environment, 21, 2481-3. 

Speciation of lead in air and atmospheric particulates is still a topic of great environmental relevance. Sodium tetrahydroborate may be used to hydrogenate inorganic lead ions and alkyl-lead species.60 As in the study by Balls outlined above, cryogenic trapping may again be used to trap temporarily the plumbane and alkyl- and tetraalkyl-lead compounds, which are then released sequentially by heating for detection by flame AAS. 

The three methods for lead in air are essentially identical however, one should use S-341 because this method has been validated unlike P CAM 155 or P CAM 173. Although all the methods recommend 2-3 ml of nitric acid for wet ashing, the final solutions differ in that P CAM 155 recommends 1% nitric, P CAM 173 recommends 1% HC1, and S-341 recommends 10% nitric with EDTA 0.1 M to suppress phosphate, carbonate, iodide, fluoride, and acetate ion that cause flame suppression. EDTA is suggested in P CAM 173 where interferences are anticipated. Both S-341 and P CAM 173 use the 217.0 nm line which is twice as sensitive as the 283.3 nm line. Strong nonatomic absorption found when high concentrations of dissolved solid are present requires use of the background corrector. These two methods differ from P CAM 155 and those for biological analysis,... 

Barton A process for making black lead monoxide by atomizing molten lead in air. 

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