Prevention of Long-Term Sequelae Following the Absorption of Lead

The initiation, in 1927, of modern measures of environmental control and medical supervision has reduced greatly the severity of exposure of employees of a storage battery factory to lead and has eliminated the occurrence of frank lead poisoning. An attempt was made to determine the extent to which the chronic effects of low-grade exposure to lead had been prevented by comparing the mortality and incidence of vascular hypertension and fatal cerebrovascular accidents among retired and currently employed persons of record, with that of employees of a much later period, during which in-plant exposure to lead had been reduced to levels now considered to be safe. Evidence suggests that such effects as those indicated have been prevented.