An advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) published by OSHA on June 28 began the rulemaking process for the agency’s revision of its standards for occupational exposure to lead. OSHA’s ANPRM cites recent medical research findings that adverse health effects in adults can occur at blood lead levels lower than those required by the agency’s current standards. In 1978, OSHA’s permissible exposure limit for lead was set at an airborne concentration of 50 µg/m3 over an eight-hour time-weighted average, with the goal of keeping blood lead levels under 40 µg/dL for most workers. Under the agency’s current lead standards, workers must be temporarily removed from their jobs when their blood lead levels are greater than or equal to 60 µg/dL for general industry and greater than or equal to 50 µg/dL for construction. Return to work after lead-related medical removal is permitted when employees’ blood lead levels are again less than 40 µg/dL. But the Federal Register notice announcing the ANPRM states that blood lead levels as low as 5 µg/dL “have been associated with impaired kidney and reproductive function, high blood pressure, and cognitive effects attributed to prenatal exposure.” Research has also shown that adults with blood lead levels of 5–19 µg/dL performed more poorly on neurocognitive and neuropsychologic assessments than adults with levels below 5 µg/dL. Information cited in the ANPRM estimates that there are more than 44,100 businesses in the United States whose employees receive blood lead level tests. Of these, approximately 8,600 have workers whose blood lead levels are 5 μg/dL or higher and 5,300 have workers whose blood lead levels are 10 μg/dL or higher. Other government entities and public health organizations have already taken action to reduce permissible blood lead levels. The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) released a position statement recommending revisions to OSHA’s current lead standards, including its PEL, in 2016. In 2018, the Department of Defense lowered its medical removal level to 20 µg/dL in response to a study by the National Research Council that found the current OSHA standards to be insufficient for protecting personnel repeatedly exposed to lead at firing ranges. Michigan’s state OSHA plan has reduced its medical removal levels for both construction and industry to 30 µg/dL, and the state OSHA plans for California and Washington have also begun revising their occupational lead standards. Through the recently published ANPRM, federal OSHA is now considering updates to its lead standards as well. The ANPRM gathers input from the public and stakeholders on reducing OSHA’s current blood lead level triggers in the medical removal protection and medical surveillance provisions of its current lead standards for general industry and construction. The agency has also collected information related to how ancillary provisions in the agency’s current standards could be modified to reduce workers’ blood lead levels and whether it should consider reducing its current PEL. Questions posed in the ANPRM relate to topics such as ACOEM’s 2016 recommendations, efforts undertaken by state OSHA plans, improved testing and surveillance methods for lead, and employers’ current practices related to managing lead exposures. The full text of the ANPRM can be found in the Federal Register. An OSHA press release published on June 28 provides more information.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) announced on June 10 that delegates attending the International Labor Conference in Geneva had approved a measure to add the principle of a safe, healthy working environment to ILO’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Previously, the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work consisted of four categories: the freedom of association and recognition of the right to collective bargaining; the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labor; the abolition of child labor; and the elimination of discrimination with respect to employment and occupation. Occupational Safety and Health will now comprise a fifth category. The Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work were adopted in 1998, with each ILO member state committing to respect and promote these principles and rights. As of 2022, 187 countries are members of ILO. More information can be found in ILO’s press release.

A new final toxicological profile for acetone is available from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. According to ATSDR, workers in industries such as commercial painting, plastic manufacturing, household cleaning, and beauty salons may be exposed to higher levels of acetone in workplace air. The agency’s information sheet on acetone advises that a strong scent of acetone and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat are “warning signs of moderate exposure.” Health effects associated with breathing high amounts of acetone during a short period of time can include headaches, confusion, nausea, racing pulse, and unconsciousness, and skin contact with acetone can cause dryness, irritation, and cracking. Studies of animals have shown birth defects, male infertility, and kidney, liver, and nerve damage associated with long-term acetone exposure. ATSDR notes that it is not known if long-term exposure to the chemical affects people similarly.