lead exposure and cable splicers

Please contact me if you have any symptoms of lead exposure...we all worked with lead cables and no precautions were taken for years...some of us have started to experience medical problems at a young age. For example...knee replacements due to osteoarthritis, unexplainable numbness in hands/feet, hearing loss, memory problems, irritability, upper gi problems...I am just trying to see if any others are having problems like myself...any input us welcomed...when I was in the USAF I was not given any protective equipment to avoid lead exposure...I worked with lead sheath cables, lead sleeves, smelting of lead end plates, etc.

The big guy

Sup bigguy.
I also worked with lead sheath cable, and sleeves. I experience numb fingers and arms often. Never gave it much thought. I also have constant problems with my sinus, and numbness in my legs.
What you have pointed out now has my interest.
Seems that I also have lead exposure, and really have no clue as to what to do about it.

I enlisted in the early 70's when all you had for protection was a pair of leather gloves!Can't tell you how many miles of lead cable I Installed and removed. I to have experianced many of the same symtoms you described. I have wondered about this topic and it's health effects! I do know you absolutley couldn't go into a manhole that had lead cable in it without a self contained breething app. just because of lead dust. So what do we do?

Enlisted in the early 80's and was involved with lead sheath cable throughout my entire career, except for the last 3 years... Got rather proficient at smelting end-plates and the installation and removal of lead sleaves... like may others, all that was given for protection was leather gloves, and goggles... have experienced all the symptom that you listed, and was curious as to the long term effects, and what is our recourse...

Thanks for the concern



Snagle

Humm! The symptoms strike very close to home! I've already been hospitalized once (5 days) with acute gi distress and just recently had another bout. Circulation problems and numbness also! Towards the end 86th AW clinic Enviormental Health did a poke and prod once a year while at Ramstein in the 90's but the damage had already been done.

Pete H

Ditto here on the symptoms. I have gone back and looked through my med records. Nothing is posted there. I remember a survey done on us in Alaska by the med folks there concentrating on the lead cables and Asbestos from the utildoor system on Eielson.... NOTHING is in my records now. Interested in keeping up with this and if there is anything that can be done

Pat Downey

Big Dawg

I have had the same problems, started working with lead/paper cable in 1973. We took down miles of it, replaced the aerial portions with the PIC. After we did that, we replaced all of our U.G. with PIC. Here at Hurlburt we still have a little after all these years. Also have buliding with asbestos, didn't know about it until just recently. Some thing just never change.

Rick Bixler

I joined the AF as a cable splicer in '79 and spent my first 5 years in cable maintenance and EI working on lead cables. I too now have hearing loss, and beginning to experience memory loss. And just like the comment from Pat Downey, I was asked by a group of medical technicians to wear a sensor while working on lead cables in manholes at McChord AFB in 1983. The results of that test was never entered into my medical records, nor was I ever contacted afterwards and provided the results of the tests. It's just like it never took place. I've often wondered what the AF found out or did with the results. I'll talk to my doctor about this. I also worked with a retired Bell splicer, and he said they were not allowed to work on lead cables beginning in the early '80 due to the health risks. Thanks for the info.

ospeng

Have had the same problems but never related them to this. I inlisted in the 80 all my work for 6 years was nothing but lead. I have worked with it my whole time in the air force. I have alot of the aliments documented in my med records and will be the doc for a final for my retirment. I will defenitly ask the quistion if this is related.

Joey V

I was an instructor from 1973 to 1976! During this time, I was asked to perform pot wiping for an hour without stopping; needless to say, there was a lot of heat and smoke! This was performed for some research or something. I just don't remember exactly. I bet the 3750 TTG doesn't have any paperwork reflecting the results or affects!!

I have experinced the same symtons you have been having but I've had a quad-by done in 2003 so I've just contributed it to burning the candle at both ends and good food (Fat)!!! If I find anything out, I'll drop a line and let everyone know the results of my research.

Sid

Wire Dawgs,

I started my splicing career at Vandenberg AFB in 1979 and remained in the career field for 16yrs until I retired in 1995. I too have experienced some of the same kind of sysmtoms and never put thought to lead exposure. I constantly have rashes that no one can explain what is going on with them. It is possible that we have been exposed to lead poisoning. Please contact me via Wire Dawg

Rupe

I cannot believe how many of us have the same symptoms. Until I read this posting I had no idea of the correlation. Has anyone started any type of investigation into this?

Okay, now after all of these years, what is the VA really going to do for us. There's probably about 400 of us who wiped sleeves. I came in in 73 and that's all we ever did at Kadena until we started getting the Better Burieds.

When I retired in 97, I did have it put into the medical records about working with Lead but nothing ever came back. There were a view of us checked out around 88 or 89 when I was at back at Camp Foster in Okinawa, everything SUPPOSEDLY came back negative.

After reading through the other forums, I've got the same systems and chalked it up to old age. Maybe it's time to head on over to the VA. Is anyone having any luck with this? For anyone that worked with me in the MH's or pit splices on Lead cables and such, I'll be more than happy to vouch for any Cable Dawg.

Gordon Gerszewski

Gordy

Hey folks add me to this list if there is one going. Spent many long days and hours working with this stuff. There was also a cleaning solvent we called orange juice until they found out it caused cancer. We used it to clean off the jell filled cables in the early 80's.

1839 EI 83-87

My $0.02 worth.

Guys, I was only in for 4 but I spent over 90% of my time wiping sleeves. I hated using gloves so I always wiped with a pad and my bare hand. I have none of the symptoms expressed in this post. The only health issue I have now in my mid-40's is diabetes and believe me it ain't due to lead exposure.

Yep, It all comes back to bit us. In the PI late 80s and then off to 1839/738/85/?. Did a lot of lead work and still run into it at some bases. GI problems X2. It would be nice if they could tell me what and how(if possible) to offset the symptoms. Still going as SIPT instructor @ 85 EIS Keesler.