Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 85-354-1872, Asarco, Denver, Colorado

Technical Report · Mon Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6741590

Thun, M J; Osorio, A M; Schober, S

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

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
552000 -- Public Health
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
CADMIUM
CLEARANCE
DUSTS
ELEMENTS
EXCRETION
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INDUSTRY
INSPECTION
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
METALS
MINERAL INDUSTRY
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
RENAL CLEARANCE
SMELTERS
TOXICITY
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION