| Abstract |
The testimony concerns the support of NIOSH for the assessment of OSHA that exposure to cadmium (7440439) is associated with the increased incidence of lung cancer and kidney dysfunction. Because cadmium is a potential occupational carcinogen and because OSHA estimates that the total cancer risk is 2.1 excess deaths per 1000 at an 8 hour time weighted average exposure of 1 microgram/cubic meter, NIOSH maintains that occupational exposures to cadmium should be reduced to the lowest feasible level. NIOSH strongly supports the use of engineering controls and work practices instead of the use of personal protective equipment, including respiratory protection, for controlling exposures to cadmium. Specific comments addressed include the control of confounding factors in kidney dysfunction analysis, the number of workers exposed to cadmium, the industries in which cadmium exposure occurs, standards for the construction industry, engineering and work practice controls, analytical methods for determining exposures, monitoring intervals, medical surveillance provisions, proteinuria and medical removal, return to work, and reproductive effects. |
