Distribution of blood lead, blood cadmium, urinary cadmium, and urinary arsenic levels in employees of a copper smelter

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1984 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9351(84)90010-0· OSTI ID:7188579

Lilis, R; Valciukas, J A; Weber, J P; Fischbein, A; Nicholson, W J; Campbell, C; Malkin, J; Selikoff, I J

A cross-sectional medical examination of a copper smelter work force included determination of blood lead (Pb-B), zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP), blood cadmium (Cd-B), urinary cadmium (Cd-U), and urinary arsenic (As-U), since it was known that such metal impurities were present in the copper concentrate. A total of 776 copper smelter employees (680 active and 96 retirees and ex-employees) were examined. Another 144 men, never employed in the smelter, but who had worked in copper mines (and sometimes in gold mines) were also examined. Mean Pb-B, ZPP, Cd-B, and As-U were significantly higher in active copper smelter employees than in retirees or miners, indicating exposure and absorption in the copper smelter. Significant correlations between Pb-B and Cd-B, and Cd-U and As-U were present, confirming the common source of absorption. Although there was evidence for an increased lead absorption, this was very moderate, with practically no Pb-B levels in excess of 60 ..mu..g/dl. A marked effect of smoking on blood cadmium levels was present; nevertheless, for all smoking categories Cd-B levels were significantly higher in active employees, indicating the independent contribution of exposure to cadmium in the smelter. Cd-U did not exceed 10 ..mu..g/g creatinine, the generally accepted critical level for the kidney, but was higher than 2 ..mu..g/g cretinine, a level very rarely exceeded in the general population, in a sizable proportion of those examined. The highest Cd-U levels were found in retired copper smelter employees; age might have been a contributing factor, besides a longer duration of exposure in the smelter.

• Research Organization: City Univ. of New York, NY
• OSTI ID: 7188579
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Vol. 33:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ARSENIC
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
CADMIUM
LEAD
PERSONNEL
MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE
AGE DEPENDENCE
BLOOD
COPPER
CORRELATIONS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
SMELTERS
TOBACCO SMOKES
URINE
AEROSOLS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BODY FLUIDS
COLLOIDS
DATA
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
INFORMATION
MATERIALS
METALS
NUMERICAL DATA
RESIDUES
SEMIMETALS
SMOKES
SOLS
SURVEILLANCE
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTES
560306* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)