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Study Links Exposure to Cadmium & Lead to Hearing Loss

The industrial hygiene professionals at Clark Seif Clark provide consulting and testing services to prevent exposure to hazards.


WEBWIRE

A study, recently published in Environmental Health Perspectives, of over 3,500 U.S. adults looked at the relationship between exposure to lead and cadmium and hearing loss.  The participants were part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and each was given a hearing exam and their blood was tested for lead and cadmium.
 
Researchers found that people with higher levels of the metals in their blood also had more hearing loss.  One of the unique aspects of the study is the link between even low level exposure to cadmium and lead and hearing loss. 
 
Many people are familiar with the toxic impact lead can have on humans, but far fewer are familiar with exposure to cadmium.  Cadmium is a naturally occurring element. Today it is used in some types of batteries as well as in pigments, coatings, and platings as a stabilizer for plastics.
 
Workers in many industries face potential exposure to cadmium. The potential for exposure is perhaps highest among workers in electroplating, metal machining, plastics, ceramics, paint, and welding or soldering operations. Workers may also be exposed to cadmium from the smelting and refining of metals or from air in industrial plants that manufacture batteries, coatings, or plastics. Workers involved in landfill operations, the recycling of electronic parts, or the recycling of plastics are also at risk for potential exposure.
 
“Exposure to cadmium that may be dangerous to people’s health can occur in numerous jobs in which workers are exposed to cadmium dust or fumes,” reported Franco Seif, President of Clark Seif Clark (CSC), a leading industrial hygiene consulting firm.  “Workers can also be exposed by the incidental ingestion of dust from contaminated hands, food, or cigarettes.  The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has estimated that more than 500,000 workers in the United States face exposure to cadmium each year.  There are government regulations regarding worker exposure to cadmium in the United States and occupational testing from Clark Seif Clark can identify and prevent situations that could otherwise put workers at risk.” 
 
CSC recently sponsored an educational video about health risks due to exposure to cadmium that can be seen at:
http://youtu.be/H_5nVE7cK9M
 
To learn more about testing for cadmium or lead, and other industrial hygiene and indoor air quality concerns, please visit Clark Seif Clark at http://www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118. 
 
About Clark Seif Clark
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both public and private sectors address environmental, IAQ, and health and safety (EH&S) issues.  CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.



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 Cadmium
 Lead
 Air Testing
 Industrial Hygiene
 Worker Safety


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