All across the globe workers collect spent lead-acid batteries, break them down, smelt the lead, and resell the ingots to other manufacturing and production facilities. In the developing world, workers and their families perform the work. Their exposure to lead, arsenic, and other heavy metals can be very high. If children are involved in the process, blood leads can reach dangerous levels. There are many companies in the US, Canada, and Mexico doing the same work. The occupational health exposures are more controlled but the risk is relative high. Only a few companies have implemented the necessary hierarchy of controls to control worker exposure. Finally, the process is also a public health and an environmental health issue for workers in developing countries and company not using air emission controls to reduce the spread of lead in the air.