Lead Testing Program

Alliance Medical Monitoring Inc. provides occupational lead exposure testing for corporations and individuals.

Lead poisoning is metal poisoning caused by lead in the body. Exposure to lead can occur by contaminated air, water, dust, food, consumer products, or industrial products/chemicals. Contaminants can enter the body through breathing as well as direct contact with the skin.

Symptoms of lead poisoning often develop over weeks to months, depending on duration and intensity of exposure, and may include:

• Headaches
• Stomach Pain
• Loss of Appetite
• Constipation / Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Irritability
• Fatigue / Sleep Difficulties
• Memory Problems
• Muscle and Joint Pain
• Fertility Problems
• Decreased Libido
• Tingling in Hands and Feet
• Unusual Taste in Mouth
• Personality Changes

Although these are the most common symptoms of lead poisoning, individuals may have other symptoms, no obvious symptoms, or they may have non-specific or subtle symptoms which they attribute to something else.

Occupations/Industries most at risk of lead exposure include:

1. Smelting or Casting Lead – lead production, scrap metal recycling, refining lead, melting lead, pouring lead. Exposure is airborne and typically occurs as a result of lead fumes produced.

2. Removing Lead Coatings – thermal stripping or sanding of old paint, demolition of old structures, steel bridge maintenance, home renovation and remodeling, petroleum tank repainting, industrial maintenance and renovation, commercial and institutional remodeling, highway and railroad bridge demolition, rivet busting, housing lead abatement, underground storage tank demolition, electrical transmission tower and communication tower maintenance. Exposure is airborne and in dust produced.

3. Heating, Machining or Spraying Lead Products – radiator repair, batter repair, welding / cutting / brazing / machining / grinding lead alloys, repair and removal of water lines or cast iron soil pipes, elevator cable babbitting, brazing pipes and sheets, electrical cable splicing and re-splicing, installation or removal of terne roofing, spraying of molten lead/lead glass/lead paint, stained glass window removal and repair and firing ammunition. Exposure is airborne as a result of lead fumes as well as dust, in addition to spray.

4. Making Lead Products – lead-acid battery manufacturing, glaze manufacturing, lead-glazed potter making, crystal glass manufacturing, making lead joints/babbitt, pewter production, cable production, leaded or stained glass production, ceramic glaze mixing and kiln firing, paint and ink manufacture, leaded plastic manufacture, ammunition manufacture, electronic components manufacturing, manufacturing electrical components using fritted glass, production of lead pipe / sheet / solder / type metal / cable shielding / anodes, mixing and weighing of lead powders.

Alliance Lead Testing Program

Alliance provides a comprehensive lead testing program which can be customized to the needs of an organization and which is governed by a customized Consent for Release of information.

The program is overseen by a Specialist in Occupational Medicine who will review all test results and provide the necessary provincial and medical reporting as well as referrals where required.

Programs include:

• Primary lead testing (blood)
• Blood lead surveillance and follow-up testing
• X-ray fluorescence testing (bone)
• Medical Review of Results with Occupational Medicine Specialist
• Medical Consultation between Occupational Medicine Specialist and participant and/or their physician, where applicable
• Medical Referrals, where applicable
• Regulatory Reporting (where applicable)
• Occupational Health Reporting (where applicable), anonymous reporting or named