The battle against occupational lead poisoning in Finland. Experiences during the 15-year period 1964--1978.

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Abstract
Occupational Pb poisoning has been greatly reduced as a problem in Finland during the 1970''s. Case finding efforts and increased awareness by plant physicians first caused an increase of the incidence with a peak of 89 reported cases in 1974. A sharp decline followed, and, although about 30 mild cases are still reported annually, classical clinical poisoning hardly exists anymore. An extensive regular monitoring program covering 8000-10,000 blood Pb (PbB) analyses a year also shows that exposure levels have been reduced. In 1977, only 70 PbB values (1%) were in excess of 70 .mu.g/100 ml, and 243 values (4%) exceeded 60 .mu.g/100 ml. All such values came from workers employed at less than 30 workplaces, and several were from workers monitored more than once a year. The general development of occupational health in Finland evidently is to a great extent reflected in this favorable development. Since special research, educational and informative efforts were devoted to the Pb problem, it may be that these measures have also influenced the outcome. On a nationwide scale, the Pb problem can be coped with much more effectively. The nonfeasibility of lowering maximum permissible exposure levels was seriously doubted. There is no reason to allow unnecessarily high exposure in the vast majority of workplaces only because a small minority has technical difficulties.

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