Workplace Health and Safety

Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium, and compounds containing these metals, are toxic to people's health. They may build up in a person's body and become a significant health hazard.

New Jersey law requires that clinical laboratories, doctors, physician assistants, and advanced practice nurses to report adult blood and urine tests with elevated levels of lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium to the New Jersey Department of Health. This information is used to develop intervention strategies to help prevent overexposures to heavy metals in New Jersey workers. Blood lead tests for children are reported to the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.

Reducing Exposures to Hazardous Substances

• Safe Gardening: Reducing Your Exposure to Lead in Soil [English] [Español]
• Lead in Drinking Water [English pdf 193k] [Español pdf 201k] [Portugués pdf 327k]
• Lead in Drinking Water at Schools and Child Care Centers: [English pdf 501k] [Español pdf 548k]

Additional Sources

• How to Clean Up Mercury Spills in Your Home 
  Sources of mercury in the home and step-by-step procedures for clean-up.
• Hazard Alert to Healthcare Providers: Cultural Uses of Mercury

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's Medical Management Guidelines (MMGs):

• Lead
• Mercury
• Arsenic
• Cadmium

Lead

• Don't Take Lead Dust Home From Work! [English] [Spanish]
  Tips for employees to avoid contaminating their home with lead dust.
• What Workers Need to Know about Occupational Lead Exposure [pdf 392k]
  Information for lead-exposed workers about sources of exposure, health symptoms, preventive measures, and available resources.
• What Physicians Need to Know about Occupational Lead Exposure [pdf 425k]
  Information for physicians about sources of exposure to lead and federal requirements for medical monitoring of lead exposed workers.
• Homemade Fishing Weights Can be Hazardous to Your Health [pdf 66k]
  This fact sheet provides fishing hobbyists information about the hazards of making fishing sinkers at home.
• Lead Exposure in Firing Ranges
  The following resources provide firing ranges patorns, owners/operators, and staff information about lead hazards in firing ranges, health effects, and protective measures.
• Infographic [pdf 726k]
• Owners and Operators [pdf 1.1m]
• Employees [pdf 1.1m]
• Lead Bullets and Firing Ranges - Protect Yourself and Your Family

Mercury

• Your Mercury Exposure 
  Guidance and information to help you find out how you have been exposed to mercury and protect yourself from further exposure.
• Mercury Exposure in the Workplace -- A Guide for Employers [pdf 884k]
  A step-by-step approach to controlling mercury exposure.

Cadmium

• Summary of OSHA Cadmium Standard [pdf 2.6mb]
  Information for employers on the requirements by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration for control of exposure to cadmium at the workplace.
• What Physicians Need to Know about Occupational Cadmium Exposure [pdf 937k]
  Information for physicians about sources of exposure to cadmium and federal requirements for medical monitoring of workers exposed to cadmium.
• Your Cadmium Exposure [pdf 869k]
  Gives information and advice to assist individuals in finding out how they may have been exposed to cadmium and how to protect themselves from further exposure.

Arsenic

Workers and Parents:

• Arsenic ToxFAQs™: [English] [Spanish]

Employers and Businesses:

• Controlling Chemical Exposure: Industrial Hygiene Fact Sheets
• Arsenic: OSHA Safety and Health Topics

Clinical Laboratories:

• Reporting Regulation and Reporting Form

Health Care Professionals:

• Reporting Regulation and Reporting Form
• Arsenic Toxicity