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construction workers risk exposing loved ones to toxic metals: study
researchers found 30 dangerous metals inside the homes of people who worked on construction sites, as well as those employed in janitorial or auto repair roles.
"construction workers have a more difficult job implementing safe practices when leaving the worksite because of the type of transient outdoor environments where they work," according to diana ceballos, the director of the exposure biology research laboratory at the boston university school of public health.
some construction workers are taking their work home with them, according to a pilot study that warns inadvertent exposure to toxic contaminants from the workplace may be putting families at risk.
although previous research has focused on the dangers of take-home exposure to lead, the study, published in the journal environmental research, identified 30 different potentially dangerous metals inside the homes of construction workers. in addition to lead, higher levels of arsenic, chromium, copper, manganese, nickel and tin dust were found in the residences of construction workers than in the homes of janitorial and auto repair workers. much less is known about the risk of exposure to these metals, which researchers say is impacted by a mix of sociodemographic, work and home-related factors.
“given the lack of policies and trainings in place to stop this contamination in high-exposure workplaces such as construction sites, it is inevitable that these toxic metals will migrate to the homes, families, and communities of exposed workers,” said diana ceballos, the study lead and corresponding author and an assistant professor of environmental health and director of the exposure biology research laboratory at the boston university school of public health.
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“many professions are exposed to toxic metals at work but construction workers have a more difficult job implementing safe practices when leaving the worksite because of the type of transient outdoor environments where they work and the lack of training on these topics.”
to determine the source and extent of the issue, researchers recruited 27 greater boston workers; the majority were employed on construction sites, but a few janitorial and auto repair workers were also included. the bulk of workers were male (90 per cent), hispanic (77 per cent), married (73 per cent), had a high school education or less (60 per cent) and had a mean age of 43. forty per cent had a family income between us$35,000 and $74,000 per year. in addition to issuing questionnaires that explored the work and home-related behaviours that could impact exposure, the team visited and inspected the homes of workers and collected dust and vacuum samples.
they discovered that higher concentrations of cadmium, chromium, copper, manganese and nickel were linked with a range of factors, including lower education, working in construction, not changing clothes or washing hands after work, not having a locker to store clothes or a place to wash them and mixing work and personal items. matters were only made worse by the fact that many construction workers reside in disadvantaged communities or substandard housing that may already contain toxic materials.
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according to ceballos, the findings highlight the need to take proactive steps to reduce exposure to these metals at construction sites and prevent take-home exposure from putting family members at risk. “given the complexity of these issues, we need interventions on all fronts — not only policies but also resources and education for these families.”
dave yasvinski is a writer with healthing.ca
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