铝熔铸作业工人神经行为功能的研究

为探讨铝对作业工人神经系统的影响，寻找对铝作业工人健康监护的早期指标，对３６名铝熔铸作业工人（车间空气中铝尘和铝浓度分别为１．６５ｍｇ／ｍ３和０．２５ｍｇ／ｍ３（ＴＷＡ））和４０名对照工人，应用ＷＨＯ－ＮＣＴＢ进行了神经行为功能测定；同时测定了尿铝、尿中高香草酸（ＨＶＡ）和香草扁桃酸（ＶＭＡ）的含量。结果发现：铝接触工人注意力、手的运动协调能力、视感知记忆力下降，反应时的标准差和最慢反应时间延长（Ｐ＝０．００２５，Ｐ＝０．００６６），提转捷度测试得分降低（Ｐ＝０．０２６），数字译码和Ｂｅｎ－ｔｏｎ视觉保留测试得分降低（Ｐ＝０．０２３，Ｐ＝０．００３）。分层分析发现：后３项分测试得分随接触时间延长而降低，铝作业工人尿ＶＭＡ和尿铝含量高于对照组。提示：铝可能对作业工人的神经系统产生影响。神经行为测试和尿ＶＭＡ测定可用于检测铝的不良效应     

无铅汽油对神经行为功能和单胺类神经递质代谢产物的影响

目的 探讨职业性无铅汽油接触以对神经功能和单胺类神经递质代谢的影响。方法 应用WHO推荐的神经行为检测组合（NCTB）对92名汽油作业工人和88名对照工人进行神经行为测试,同时用高效液相色谱法－电化学法联检测定其尿中高香草酸（HVA）和香草扁桃酸（VMA）的浓度。结果 接触组明显存在忧郁－沮丧的不良情绪状态,简单反应时慢于对照组,数字跨度、提转捷度、数字译码和目标追中学踪得分明显低于对照组,且行为功能得分随浓度的增高而降低;汽油接触工人尿中HVA和VMA浓度均降低。结论 提示职业性低浓度接触无铅汽油油可影响神经行为功能和单胺类神经递质代谢。     

铝对神经行为功能和单胺类神经递质代谢的影响

目的评价职业性铝接触对神经行为功能和单胺类神经递质代谢的影响。方法对３３名铝作业工人和４０名对照工人进行研究。作业环境空气铝的测定用原子吸收仪，尿中高香草酸和香草扁桃酸及血清和尿铝的测定用高效液相色谱仪，神经行为功能测试采用ＷＨＯ推荐的神经行为核心测试组合。结果作业环境铝的时间加权几何平均浓度为０．９５ｍｇ／ｍ３（０．３１～４．１２ｍｇ／ｍ３），铝作业工人尿铝平均水平显著高于对照工人（分别为１２．２５μｇ／Ｌ和５．７８μｇ／Ｌ），但血清铝水平与对照工人差异未见显著性；铝作业工人尿中的高香草酸和香草扁桃酸水平均较高，且香草扁桃酸水平显著高于对照工人；神经行为功能测试发现，接触工人的手提转捷度、数字译码和视觉保留测试项目得分与对照工人比较差异有显著性。结论提示职业性低浓度接触铝可影响神经行为功能和单胺类神经递质代谢。     

染铝大鼠尿中单胺类神经递质代谢物含量的变化

目的观察三氯化铝 (AlCl3)对染毒大鼠尿中单胺类神经递质含量变化的影响 ,寻找早期生物学监测指标 ,为探讨铝的神经毒性作用机制提供依据。方法144只Wistar大鼠随机分为注射剂量分别为5.0、15.0、25.0mg/Kg的3个剂量组和生理盐水对照组。用原子吸收分光光度计测定尿铝含量 ,用高效液相色谱仪测定尿中高香草酸 (HVA)及香草扁桃酸 (VMA)含量。结果各时间剂量组大鼠尿铝均显著高于对照组 (P<0.01);尿中的HVA和VMA水平均较高 ,各时间剂量组VMA水平显著高于对照组 (P<0.01) ;25mg/kg组HVA也显著高于对照组 (P<0.05)。结论铝可影响单胺类神经递质代谢 ,尿铝和VMA可用作铝引起的中枢神经系统功能异常的早期生物学监测指标     

Neurochemical effect of lead exposure: a study on catecholamine metabolism

In an attempt to examine the neurochemical changes of lead exposure, a study was conducted on 106 lead workers and a control group of 25 nonexposed workers. The urinary excretion of major catecholamine metabolites, homovanillic acid (HVA), and vanillylmandellic acid (VMA) were measured. Workers exposed to lead had a mean blood lead concentration of 43.2 micrograms/100 ml, whereas the concentration for workers not exposed to lead was 12.7 micrograms/100 ml. Urinary HVA was significantly elevated in the exposed group when compared with controls (p less than 0.01). HVA was also found to be associated with an increase of lead in blood. Although not statistically significant, the VMA excretion was also noted to be moderately elevated; however, it is recognized that the present study was unable to establish a highly significant dose-response relationship between lead exposure and HVA excretion, as has been reported earlier in lead-poisoned children.     

尿邻甲酚作为接触甲苯生物监测指标的探讨

目的探讨尿邻甲酚作为接触甲苯生物监测指标的可能性。方法建立柱前衍生高效液相色谱法测定人体尿中邻甲酚,且使用该方法测定非职业及职业接触甲苯人群尿中邻甲酚水平,并进行接触评定。结果甲苯接触者尿邻甲酚水平为(2.61±1.94)mg/L,明显高于对照组[(0.32±0.23)mg/L],差异有显著性(P<0.001),且接触甲苯工人班后尿邻甲酚水平比班前明显升高,最高可达29倍。接触甲苯者尿邻甲酚水平与个体接触甲苯浓度明显相关(r=0.6295,P<0.01)。结论尿邻甲酚可以作为接触甲苯的生物监测指标。     

Biological indicators of exposure to total and respirable aluminium dust fractions in a primary aluminium smelter.

OBJECTIVES: The study attempts to define biological indicators of aluminium uptake and excretion in workers exposed to airborne aluminium compounds in a primary aluminium smelter. Also, this study defines the total and respirable aluminium dust fractions in two different potrooms, and correlates their concentrations with biological indicators in this group of workers. METHODS: Air was sampled at defined work sites. Non-destructive and conventional techniques were used to find total and respirable aluminium content of the dust. Blood and urine was collected from 84 volunteers employed at various work stations throughout the smelter and from two different cohorts of controls matched for sex, age, and socioeconomic status. Aluminium in serum samples and urine specimens was measured by flameless atomic absorption with a PE 4100 ZL spectrometer. RESULTS: The correlation of aluminium concentrations in serum and urine samples with the degree of exposure was assessed for three arbitrary exposure categories; low (0.036 mg Al/m3), medium (0.35 mg Al/m3) and high (1.47 mg Al/m3) as found in different areas of the smelter. At medium and high exposure, the ratio of respirable to total aluminium in the dust samples varied significantly. At high exposure, serum aluminium, although significantly raised, was still within the normal range of an unexposed population. The workers with low exposure excreted aluminium in urine at levels significantly higher than the controls, but still within the normal range of the population. However, potroom workers with medium and high exposure had significantly higher urinary aluminium than the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that only urinary aluminium constitutes a practical index of occupational exposure at or above 0.35 mg Al/m3, and that the respirable fraction of the dust may play a major role in the biological response to exposure to aluminium in a smelter environment.     

Comparison between males and females with respect to the porphyrin metabolic disorders found in workers occupationally exposed to lead

 To elucidate the sex difference in porphyrin metabolic disorders induced by lead exposure, we determined plasma δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), urinary ALA, and urinary coproporphyrin (CP) in 298 lead-exposed workers (160 males and 138 females), and compared the data thus obtained. The use of fluorometric high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method which is highly sensitive and specific made possible the measurement of ALA in a small volume (50 μl) of plasma. The concentrations (mean± SD) of lead in blood (males: 55.1±12.9 μg/dl; females: 54.7±13.5 μg/dl) indicated that the intensity of occupational exposure to lead was almost equal in the two groups. However, the elevation of plasma ALA concentration and the increased urine ALA and CP excretion among these lead workers were much higher in females than in males, confirming the finding of a sex difference in the biological effect of human exposure. The difference in urine CP excretion was especially pronounced, the mean concentration of urinary CP in the female workers being 3.5–5 times higher than that in the male workers. Received: 7 August 1995/Accepted: 2 January 1996     

Evaluation of dermal absorption and protective effectiveness of respirators for xylene in spray painters

Objectives To determine the contribution of dermal absorption on the total exposure dose and the performance of respirators in the field for xylene in spray painters. Methods Eighteen male spray painters worked at shipyard were recruited for this study. The subjects were monitored during a 3-day-work period using a repeated-measures study design. Personal exposure to xylene outside and inside mask were collected using two 3 M model 3500 organic vapor monitors, respectively. Urine was collected before and after the work shift and urinary methyl hippuric acid (MHA) was determined. Total 98 of air and urine samples were obtained, respectively. Results Air sampling results showed that workers were primarily exposed to xylene and ethyl benzene. Xylene and ethyl benzene concentrations outside the mask were 52.6 ± 63.7 (mean ± SD) and 33.2 ± 32.4 ppm, and concentrations inside the mask were 2.09 ± 2.74 and 1.79 ± 2.16 ppm, respectively. The median workplace protection factors of respirators for xylene and ethyl benzene were 25.0 and 17.4, respectively. On average, workers could reduce xylene inhalation by 96% and ethyl benzene inhalation by 94% for wearing respirators. A significant correlation (R ² = 0.935; P < 0.001) was found between the WPFs for xylene and ethyl benzene. Total urinary MHA concentration was 240.2 ± 42.3 (mean ± SE) mg/g creatinine, whereas urinary MHA via skin absorption was estimated to be 202.1 ± 40.1 mg/g creatinine. The contribution of dermal absorption to the total exposure dose of xylene was 64 ± 4.3%. Conclusion The present study showed that inhalation of solvent vapors in workers decreased as a result of wearing respirators and dermal exposure became the main contributor to the total body burden of solvents. Because workers had different attitude and behavior to wear respirators, the measured workplace protection factors varied. It is therefore equally important to prevent from being exposed to solvents through skin for shipyard spray painters.     

Serum and urinary vanadium of workers processing vanadium pentoxide

Summary Serum and urinary vanadium concentrations were investigated in eight men exposed to vanadium pentoxide dust. The creatinine-adjusted urinary vanadium concentrations were found to correlate with serum vanadium concentrations (r=0.81), but not with the vanadium contents of factory air. The urinary vanadium excretion decreased significantly with the time the workers spent out of exposure. At the beginning of their summer holidays the serum vanadium concentration of the workers was 393 ± 223 (S.D.) nmol/l and the urinary excretion of vanadium 73 ± 50 nmol/mmol of creatinine. Three days after exposure the urinary excretion of vanadium was 46 ± 24 nmol/mmol of creatinine. On the 16th day of their holidays vanadium could be detected in the serum (225 ± 83 nmol/1) and in the urine (48 ± 26 nmol/mmol of creatinine) of the workers. Eight family members of the exposed had less vanadium in urine (32 ± 17 nmol/mmol of creatinine). These results suggest that most of the absorbed vanadium is excreted in the urine within one day after a long-term moderate exposure to vanadium dust.     

Effect of fire smoke on some biochemical parameters in firefighters of Saudi Arabia

Background

Lead exposure is common in automobile battery manufacture and repair, radiator repair, secondary smelters and welding units. Urinary Aminolevulinic acid has validity as a surrogate measure of blood lead level among workers occupationally exposed to lead. This study had therefore assessed the magnitude of lead exposure in battery repair workers of three transport service enterprises.

Methods

To this effect, a cross-sectional study was carried out on lead exposure among storage battery repair workers between November 2004 and May 2005 from Anbasa, Comet and Walia transport service enterprises, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Subjective information from the workers was obtained by making use of structured questionnaire. Other information was obtained from walkthrough evaluation of the repair units. Aminolevulinic acid levels in urine were used as an index of the exposure. This was coupled to measurements of other relevant parameters in blood and urine collected from adult subjects working in the repair units as well as age matched control subjects that were not occupationally exposed to lead. Aminolevulinic acid was determined by spectrophotometry, while creatinine clearance, serum creatinine, urea and uric acid levels were determined using AMS Autolab analyzer.

Results

Urinary aminolevulinic acid levels were found to be significantly higher in exposed group (16 μg/ml ± 2.0) compared to the non-exposed ones (7 μg/ml ± 1.0) (p < 0.001). Alcohol taking exposed subjects exhibited a significant increase in urinary aminolevulinic acid levels than non-alcohol taking ones (p < 0.05). Moreover, urinary aminolevulinic acid levels of exposed subjects increased with age (p < 0.001) as well as duration of employment (p < 0.001). Whereas serum uric acid levels of exposed subjects was significantly higher than non-exposed ones (p < 0.05), no statistically significant difference had been found in renal indices and other measured parameters between exposed and non-exposed subjects. From the questionnaire responses and walkthrough observations, it was also known that all the repair units did not implement effective preventive and control measures for workplace lead exposure.

Conclusion

Taken together, these findings indicated that workers in lead acid battery repair units of the transport service enterprises are not protected from possibly high lead exposure. Thus, strict enforcement of appropriate and cost effective preventive and control measures is required by all the enterprises.     

Effect of aluminium on the levels of some essential elements in occupationally exposed workers

The mechanism of aluminium-induced cytotoxicity has not yet been defined. This study investigated possible changes in essential elements in workers occupationally exposed to Al fumes. It included 60 exposed workers and a matching control group of 60 employees not occupationally exposed to Al. Mean serum copper, calcium, zinc and iron were significantly lower in the exposed group than in controls. In addition, mean plasma and urine levels of Al were significantly higher in the exposed employees than in the controls. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between plasma and urinary Al and the studied essential elements. These findings corroborate the hypothesis that Al exposure has an adverse effect on essential elements in humans, with subsequent impact on the cellular enzymatic and metabolic processes.     

尿香草扁桃酸测定对锰中毒早期诊断的意义

本文对440名锰作业工人进行了尿香草扁桃酸(VMA)测定,结果明显高于对照纽,差异非常显著(P<0.001)。本文还讨论了锰接触者尿VMA升高的机理。作者认为尿VMA可作为锰中毒早期诊断较为客观的指标。     

电解铝作业对工人神经系统功能及微量元素含量的影响

为了解电解铝作业环境对工人神经系统功能及微量元素代谢的影响,对某电解铝厂的４８名开人及２４名对照工人进行了神经系统检查和生物样品检测。结果发现与对照组比较,电解铝作业工人血甭胆碱酯酶（ＡｃｈＥ）活性明显升高,尿香草扁桃酸（ＶＭＡ）含量明显升高,全血微量元素铝、铁、铜、锰、镁量明显升高和尿氟升高。这些结果表明：接触低浓度铝、氟和稳态磁场的工人神经系统影响以生化代谢改变为主,表现为ＡｃｈＥ活性和尿ＶＮ     

职业接触镉对工人胰岛素水平的影响

目的研究镉对职业暴露人群胰岛素和血糖水平的影响。方法以我国中南地区某冶炼厂98名镉作业工人为职业接触对象,同时选取该厂职工医院未接触镉的健康医生作为对照。按照研究对象镉接触工龄及血镉、尿镉分组,调查了不同接触工龄组及不同血镉、尿镉组工人血清胰岛素水平的变化,同时检测机体血锌、尿锌水平的改变,并就血镉、血锌及血胰岛素等水平之间的相关关系进行分析。结果接触工龄20-年组血糖水平[(4．9±0．6)mmol／L]明显高于对照组[(4．6±0．5) mmol／L],差异有统计学意义(P<0．01)。接触工龄10～年组血清胰岛素水平[(8．58±4．91)μIU/ml]明显低于对照组[(11．57±5．42)μIU/ml],差异有统计学意义(P<0．05);且随血镉、尿镉水平的增加,血清胰岛素水平明显降低。接触工龄20-年者尿锌水平明显增高。相关分析显示,胰岛素与血镉、尿镉呈明显的负相关关系,血糖与胰岛素、C肽水平之间呈正相关关系。结论职业接触镉可以导致血清胰岛素水平的降低,可能影响血糖水平。     

铅作业女工子女神经行为和神经生化改变的配对研究

目的　通过观察铅作业女工子女（６ ～１０ 岁） 及１∶１ 对照组血铅、发铅、神经行为及生化的差异,了解铅对神经行为的影响及其生物学基础。方法　采用ＷＨＯ 推荐的神经行为测试组合中适宜儿童的四项测定神经行为功能,采用高效液相色谱法－ 电化学法联检测定尿中高香草酸（ＨＶＡ） 和香草扁桃酸（ＶＡＭ） 的浓度。所得资料用ＳＰＳＳ 软件进行配对ｔ 检验。结果　接触组尿液中ＨＶＡ 和ＶＭＡ 减少（ Ｐ＜０－００１） ,数字广度及最快反应时间得分减少（ Ｐ＜ ０－００１） 。结论　铅对女工子代的ＨＶＡ、ＶＭＡ、数字广度及最快反应时等神经行为生化指标有影响。     

炼焦职业暴露工人与对照人群尿中1-羟基芘水平比较

目的比较焦炉工和非职业暴露人群尿中1-羟基芘的不同水平,并探讨可能的各种影响因素.方法 2002年上半年,以某焦化厂265名炼焦作业工人和226名非职业接触对照人群为调查对象,职业接触组收集工作班末尿,对照组收集晨尿.根据环境中多环芳烃监测和调查表评价外暴露因素和可能的混杂因素,采用高效液相色谱法测定尿中1-羟基芘含量,比较两组人群尿中1-羟基芘的不同水平,并分析外暴露等级、吸烟、饮酒、年龄和体重指数的可能影响.结果尿中1-羟基芘浓度呈炉顶工〉炉侧工〉炉底工〉对照的趋势,几何均数依次为13.49、6.56、1.38和0.35 μmol/mol肌酐,差异有统计学意义;各组人群尿中1-羟基芘浓度超标率分别依次为94.81%、84.73%、35.09%和0.88%,差异有统计学意义.对照人群中≥20支/d吸烟组的尿中1-羟基芘水平明显高于不吸烟组,修正几何均数分别为0.47和0.31 μmol/mol肌酐,差异有统计学意义;对照人群中饮酒组的尿中1-羟基芘水平明显低于不饮酒组,修正几何均数分别为0.33和0.47 μmol/mol肌酐,差异有统计学意义.结论焦炉工尿中1-羟基芘水平较高,以炉侧工和炉顶工最为明显,非职业暴露人群尿中1-羟基芘本底水平与吸烟和饮酒因素有关.     

Isopropanol and methylformate exposure in a foundry: exposure data and neurobehavioural measurements

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the dose-effect relationship between solvent exposure and acute neurobehavioural effects at the worksite. Methods: In a balanced design, ten workers in a Swiss foundry were monitored for 15 days at ten different times during work. Urine samples were taken in the morning and at the time of examination, and personal exposure to isopropanol and methylformate was measured with active samplers. Neurobehavioural tests such as postural balance (bipedal, bipedal blind, monopedal), simple reaction time and digit span of the Neurobehavioural Evaluation System (NES2) and a combined memory and reaction-time test, the combi-test, were performed. A rating of well-being, and the last consumption of alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and medication were reported. Results: Average environmental concentrations of isopropanol were at 44 ppm (±16 ppm), and at 36 ppm (±21 ppm) for methylformate. Maximum values of personal exposure to isopropanol reached barely the maximal allowable concentration (MAC) value (400 ppm); the methylformate personal exposure of three workers exceeded the MAC value (100 ppm). Urine concentrations of methanol were high (3.1 ± 2.3 mg/l in the morning, 7.8 ± 4.9 mg/l after exposure) compared with the results of other studies; concentrations of isopropanol were rather low (0.88 ± 0.73 mg/l after exposure). Conclusions: Nevertheless, between personal exposure and biomonitoring, linear correlation was found. Methylformate exposure correlated with methanol and formic acid concentration in the urine, and isopropanol exposure with its concentration in the urine. With the neurobehavioural tests used, no solvent effect in relation to the dose could be determined. Received: 21 January 2000 / Accepted: 20 May 2000     

Health Status of Copper Refinery Workers with Specific Reference to Selenium Exposure

Copper refinery workers exposed to selenium were studied before, during, and after a shutdown period. Urine selenium levels were 83 ± 30 μmol/mol creatinine and 69 ± 27 μmol/mol creatinine when measured on two occasions during exposure compared with 56 ± 17 μmol/mol creatinine when the workers had been free of exposure for 10 wk during a shutdown. The refinery workers reported more nose and eye irritation, indigestion, stomach pain, and fatigue than controls. “Garlic-like” breath odor was reported to be personally and socially offensive by many of the workers. Reporting of symptoms, pulmonary function indices, and laboratory test results did not change with exposure except for hemoglobin level, which rose during the shutdown. Hemoglobin levels were found to be inversely correlated with the urine selenium level, and there was a positive correlation noted for the interactive effect of urine selenium and urine arsenic levels on hemoglobin.     

人尿中酚,粘糠酸,苯巯基尿酸的生物监测

为了探索接触低浓度苯的生物监测指标，在建立了灵敏、特异的尿中反，反－粘糠酸（ｔ，ｔ－ＭＡ）的高效液相色谱（ＨＰＬＣ）、苯巯基尿酸（Ｓ－ＰＭＡ）的色谱／质谱／质谱（ＬＣ／ＭＳ／ＭＳ）测定方法的基础上，对４９位接触低浓度苯的工人及２０位非职业接触者进行了生物监测。结果表明：在苯接触浓度低于３．２ｍｇ／ｍ３（１ｐｐｍ）的情况下，作业工人的尿ｔ，ｔ－ＭＡ和Ｓ－ＰＭＡ浓度与空气中苯的ＴＷＡ浓度显著相关；尿酚与空气中苯的ＴＷＡ浓度之间的相关性很差。吸烟能增加尿ｔ，ｔ－ＭＡ和Ｓ－ＰＭＡ的浓度。