Lead Inhalation Risk Assessment for Automotive Technicians Based on a Lead Deposition–Air Model

Automotive technicians are exposed to lead during maintenance operations, and the associated risks remain unexplored. This study utilized the ghost wipe as a sampling medium to collect particulates on the wall surfaces from 12 automobile repair workshops. The measured lead deposition ranged from 15.2 ± 0.06 to 416.9 ± 83.13 μ g/m 2 . A linear correlation was observed between lead deposition and the number of repaired automotives. A lead deposition–air model was developed to estimate lead concentrations within automotive workshops. Three additional workshops were investigated, and the measured lead depositions of them are similar to the model′s prediction. Furthermore, the lead emission factor ( C c : 0.0625 μ g/m 3 /car) was evaluated, and a risk model was developed based on C c , employment duration, and annual number of repaired automotives. It was verified that wearing protective masks during maintenance operations and maintaining an acceptable air exchange rate can effectively reduce lead exposure. In summary, our study introduces the lead deposition–air model as a novel method for assessing occupational exposure in the context of particulate matter contamination.