Significance of cadmium concentration in blood and in urine in workers exposed to cadmium

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9351(79)90014-8· OSTI ID:5642795

Lauwerys, R; Roels, H; Regniers, M; Buchet, J P; Bernard, A; Goret, A

All the workers (n=11) occupied in a small factory producing cadmium salts were followed up during several months. At regular time intervals the workers were equipped with a personal air sampler and cadmium concentrations in blood and in urine were measured. The total airborne concentration of cadmium at the different work places was very high. The median values ranged from 110 to 2125 ..mu..g/m/sup 3/. In view of the hygiene practice of the workers, ingestion of cadmium may also have played a role in the overall exposure. After the start of the exposure, cadmium concentration in blood increases linearly up to 120 days and then levels off. This suggests that when equilibrium is reached cadmium level in blood is a good indicator of the average intake during recent months. The interpretation of the cadmium levels in urine is more complex. In seven workers exposed for more than 250 days cadmium level in urine seemed to reflect mainly current exposure. Our results suggest also the existence of three phases in the evolution of the Cd levels in urine after the onset of high exposure. A first phase of very short duration (0-15 days) is observed during which cadmium level in urine increases rapidly to reach a value of about 15 ..mu..g/g creatinine. This is followed by a second phase (15-120 days) during which cadmium level in urine increases more slowly. After 120 days there is apparently a rapid increase of the cadmium level in urine (third phase).

• Research Organization: Univ. of Louvain, Bruxelles, Belgium
• OSTI ID: 5642795
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 20:2; ISSN ENVRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BLOOD
BODY FLUIDS
CADMIUM
DISTRIBUTION
DOSES
ELEMENTS
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
METABOLISM
METALS
MONITORING
PERSONNEL MONITORING
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIATION MONITORING
TIME DEPENDENCE
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
URINE
WASTES
WORKING CONDITIONS