London, 25th October - A recently published investigation by the independent Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) in Edinburgh has found that direct skin contact with either new or old sheet lead poses no danger to health.

The study was conducted to identify the potential risk that traces of lead could come into contact with the mouth via the fingers. During comprehensive contact tests in the laboratory and at historic buildings, the amount of material transferred to the hands as a result of occasional or regular contact with sheet lead was examined. The result: even when hands came into contact with sheet lead for up to 100 seconds, the amount of lead on the skin was on average just 1.54 µg/cm² (micrograms per square centimetre). Given this comparatively low value, impacts on the health of adults can, in principle, be ruled out.

The new results contribute to the sheet lead industry’s assessment of possible health risks; this forms the basis of the industry’s code of best practice. The European Lead Sheet Industry Association (ELSIA) points out that simple preventive measures have been proven to be highly successful in the handling of lead:

- As a precaution it is recommended always to wash one’s hands before any contact with food, as well as before smoking.
 
- For safety reasons it is advisable to wear gloves, which guarantee a secure grip and protect from accidents and injuries.

- If lead sheet laid decades ago is being removed from a roof, it is necessary to wear a dust mask. This reliably protects from the unwanted inhalation of fine dust particles.

- Furthermore, roofers and plumbers should ensure that closed spaces are well-ventilated when soldering and welding.

These simple, effective precautions are no more stringent than those for the handling of many other products on the market. Additional rules of conduct must be observed when working with lead in an occupational environment. Further information regarding this subject can be found online at www.elsia.eu.

About ELSIA:

The European Lead Sheet Industry Association (ELSIA) is the central trade association of the European lead sheet manufacturing industry. All members work to an established EN standard that guarantees the highest level of product quality. ELSIA is committed to funding long-term research and development to ensure that its products are environmentally sound. The members take a modern, responsible attitude to the health and safety of stakeholders and the environment.

- Photos free of charge upon request, © ELSIA (www.elsia.eu) -

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