2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/11474Estimates of the total metal production rate (\dotρ_Z) and star formation rate at z > 2 are based on Lyman break systems observed in the rest-frame ultraviolet (UV). These observations are very sensitive to dust obscuration. Here I elucidate and refine the Meurer et al. (1997) method for calculating UV obscuration, presenting new relationships which accurately model the dust reprocessing of radiation in local starbursts. The median lambda = 1600 Angstroms obscuration factor is ~10 at z ~ 3 which is shown to be consistent with other constraints on the high-z \dotρ_Z. Two tests are proposed to further constrain \dotρ_Z at these redshifts.4 pages Latex (paspconf.sty,psfig.sty), 2 encapsulated postscript figures. To appear in "The Hubble Deep Field, Posters Presented At The STScI Symposium, May 1997", eds. M. Livio, S.M. Fall, and P. MadauAstrophysicstext