Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 85-354-1872, Asarco, Denver, Colorado
An evaluation was made of possible hazardous working conditions at the ASARCO Globe facility, Denver, Colorado. The facility was involved in the recovery of cadmium from baghouse dust, a waste byproduct of nonferrous smelters. A medical study of kidney function was conducted in 45 current or former cadmium production workers; results were compared to those for 35 hospital workers. Kidney abnormalities were more common and more severe in the cadmium workers than in the hospital workers. Abnormalities of proximal tubular function included reduced reabsorption of beta-2-microglobulin, retinol binding protein, calcium and phosphate. Glomerular dysfunction was evidenced as elevated serum creatinine. As length of exposure to cadmium increased, changes became more apparent in workers. No reversal of the conditions was noted in workers who had ceased to be exposed to cadmium some time before the study. The authors conclude that occupational overexposure to cadmium caused kidney disease in workers at the facility.
- Research Organization:
- National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6741590
- Report Number(s):
- PB-88-236864/XAB; HETA-85-354-1872
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
CADMIUM
RENAL CLEARANCE
DUSTS
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
MINERAL INDUSTRY
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
SMELTERS
TOXICITY
CLEARANCE
ELEMENTS
EXCRETION
INDUSTRY
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
METALS
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
552000 - Public Health