European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
Elke Schneider, Araceli Sánchez Jiménez, Emmanuelle Brun
Guidance for the health surveillance and biomonitoring of workers exposed to lead and its compounds
Annex
Table of Contents
1 Purpose and scope
2 Regulation of lead in the EU – classification and occupational limit values
3 Work activities that may represent a risk of exposure
4 Adverse health effects associated with exposure to lead and its inorganic compounds.
4.1 Exposure routes
4.2 Toxicokinetics and metabolism
4.3 Health effects
4.4 Vulnerable groups
5 Health surveillance: biological monitoring and medical surveillance
5.1 Frequency of health surveillance: biological monitoring and medical surveillance
5.2 Records of medical history and symptoms
5.3 Work history and past/cumulative exposure
5.4 Physical examinations
5.5 Biological monitoring
5.5.1 Procedure and equipment for blood sampling for lead analysis
5.5.2 Sample conservation, transport and storage
5.5.3 Information to be recorded
5.5.4 Quality of data
5.5.5 Interpretation of results
5.5.6 Ethical considerations
6 Analytical methods for measuring lead in blood
7 Employers’ obligations
7.1 Prevention and reduction of exposure
7.2 Information and training
7.3 Female workers of childbearing age
7.4 Alternative job and declining trend on exposure
7.5 Occupational disease (OD) notification
8 Information for workers
8.1 Health effects of lead
8.2 Family planning, pregnancy and breastfeeding
8.3 Medical conditions
8.4 Personal hygiene
8.5 Health surveillance
Bibliography
fonte: osha.europa.eu
© European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, 2026
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.