October 30, 2002—The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced the issuance of a patent for a handwipe that can quickly detect the presence of lead on skin; surfaces such as tables, floors, walls, and window sills; and the surfaces of vehicles used in industries where lead is produced or used.
CDC says that this invention is important because it can help protect workers from lead poisoning. The handwipe can test a variety of surfaces and indicates the presence of lead through a simple color change. This would alert a worker that there is some level of lead contamination and that he or she should perform more thorough hand washing.
Lead residues on the hands of workers can be a significant health risk since lead may be ingested during eating, drinking, or smoking. Although hand washing, if done carefully, can remove all lead residues, it is difficult for individuals to determine whether hand washing has been thorough enough.
Lead exposure is a significant environmental hazard that can affect large and diverse segments of the population. For example, exposure can occur to workers involved in the removal of lead-based paint or the renovation of buildings containing lead-based paint, as well as workers in metal industries. If inadvertently tracked home on workers’ skin, clothing, or vehicles, lead can also pose risks to workers’ family members.
The handwipe was developed by CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Under the federal Technology Transfer Act, government laboratories can patent and license inventions to businesses.
To learn more about CDC technologies, visit CDC’s Web site.
