Biological monitoring of arsenic exposure of gallium arsenide- and inorganic arsenic-exposed workers by determination of inorganic arsenic and its metabolites in urine and hair

Journal Article · Wed Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15298668991375236· OSTI ID:5030496

Yamauchi, H; Takahashi, K; Mashiko, M; Yamamura, Y ^[1]

---

1. St. Marianna Univ. School of Medicine, Kawasaki (Japan)

In an attempt to establish a method for biological monitoring of inorganic arsenic exposure, the chemical species of arsenic were measured in the urine and hair of gallium arsenide (GaAs) plant and copper smelter workers. Determination of urinary inorganic arsenic concentration proved sensitive enough to monitor the low-level inorganic arsenic exposure of the GaAs plant workers. The urinary inorganic arsenic concentration in the copper smelter workers was far higher than that of a control group and was associated with high urinary concentrations of the inorganic arsenic metabolites, methylarsonic acid (MAA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA). The results established a method for exposure level-dependent biological monitoring of inorganic arsenic exposure. Low-level exposures could be monitored only by determining urinary inorganic arsenic concentration. High-level exposures clearly produced an increased urinary inorganic arsenic concentration, with an increased sum of urinary concentrations of inorganic arsenic and its metabolites (inorganic arsenic + MAA + DMAA). The determination of urinary arsenobetaine proved to determine specifically the seafood-derived arsenic, allowing this arsenic to be distinguished clearly from the arsenic from occupational exposure. Monitoring arsenic exposure by determining the arsenic in the hair appeared to be of value only when used for environmental monitoring of arsenic contamination rather than for biological monitoring.

• OSTI ID: 5030496
• Journal Information: American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal; (USA), Vol. 50:11; ISSN 0002-8894
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ARSENIC
METABOLISM
GALLIUM COMPOUNDS
HAIR
METABOLITES
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PERSONNEL
WELDING
BODY
ELEMENTS
FABRICATION
JOINING
ORGANS
SEMIMETALS
SKIN
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology