Significance of cadmium concentration in blood and in urine in workers exposed to cadmium
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), Vol. 20:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BLOOD
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CADMIUM
METABOLISM
DOSES
PERSONNEL MONITORING
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TIME DEPENDENCE
URINE
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
QUANTITY RATIO
WORKING CONDITIONS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BODY FLUIDS
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ELEMENTS
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
METALS
MONITORING
RADIATION MONITORING
WASTES
560306* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)
550600 - Medicine
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)