Automotive Service Technician

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Long term occupational exposure to lead had a great impact in developing devastating effects in a human body (WHO, 2010). An example of this occupation is the automotive service technicians or a mechanic.
An automotive service technician or a mechanic is exposed to a variety of hazards and dangers in the repair shop slip and fall accidents caused by spilled motor or car oil, bruises and cuts from mishandling tools, and also exposure to lead from replacement car parts that contain the toxic substances. According to OSHA and NIOSH the allowed exposure limit of lead in the air in an eight hour period is not more than 0.05 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) (OSHA, 2012). However, in auto repair shop, the level may increase. According to the study …show more content…

The technicians repair and do the testing, adjusting and repairing of engines, vehicle suspensions, braking systems, steering systems, electrical systems, do wheel alignments and air-conditioning systems. A large repair shops can specialize on the repair, rebuild and service of the specific parts like engines, transmissions, electrical components while a smaller repair shops, accommodates a variety of repair jobs that an automotive service technicians can work on. The use of the equipment testing, or referring to manufacturers' manuals can be done in order to locate damage operations. Automotive service technicians also may perform basic maintenance services and care such as change oil, lubrications and service tune ups and informs clients on the work performed on general vehicle conditions and the repairs to be …show more content…

Exposure to lead primarily affects the respiratory or gastrointestinal. Inhalation results in 30% to 70% of absorption efficiency (Ziegler, Edwards, Jensen, Mahaffey, Fomon, 1978). Absorption through the gut depends on different factors such as nutritional status and age, it also includes the increase intake of the gastrointestine that occurs in children with age younger than 6 years old. Some substances can increase lead absorption in the body, these are ascorbic acid, low dietary zinc and also citric acid while calcium, iron, alcohol, magnesium and fat can weaken the absorption of lead. (Boffetta, Nyberg, 2003). Erythrocyte can acquire almost 95% of absorbed lead in the body which impedes in the heme synthesis. Lead is distributed to soft tissues, such as brain, kidney and liver. (Barltrop, Smith, 1985).When lead is absorbed it is distributed almost to all tissues but 95% or more of the body burden is taken up in the bone which has a biological half-life of up to ten years. Lead is excreted primarily in the urine. Lead in the bone does not remain permanently but it is released slowly back in the blood circulation. (Skerving, Bergdahl,

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