Age-dependent differences of neurobehavioural function among workers exposed to aluminium

Abstract

KEY WORDSIn order to clarify the neurobehavioural effects of aluminium and age-dependent aluminium exposure differences among occupationally aluminium (Al) exposed workers, 103 Alneurobehavioural function exposed and 64 non-exposed workers aged 25-60 years were selected to be age involved in the study using the WHO recommended Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery (NCTB). The air concentration of aluminium at work sites and the level of urinary aluminium were measured. The results obtained from this study showed that the mean concentration of air aluminium was up to 5.31 mg m −3 , and the level of urinary aluminium among Al-exposed workers appeared significantly higher than that of controls. The scores of digit span in the younger age group, digit symbol in the middle age, and pursuit aiming in the older age of Al-exposed workers were markedly lower than in the non-exposed workers at the corresponding age ranges. Obvious changes of mood were observed in elderly Al-exposed workers, but no significant differences between younger Alexposed and non-exposed workers was found. The results indicate that occupational aluminium exposure might interfere with normal behavioural function. The effects seemed to be age-dependent. Younger workers showed memory disturbances and the elderly appeared to be affected for mood and motor activities.

Neuropsychological function among workers exposed to aluminum – a mini-review

“…Altogether, 559 papers were identified from the literature search, and 24 studies were found to fulfil the inclusion criteria and were subsequently included in the study. Eleven studies were on workers in aluminum production plants [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] , and ten were on aluminum welders [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40] . One study comprised workers with different kinds of exposure 41) , one study was comprised of workers who recycled aluminum in a salvage plant 42) and one study examined workers who inhaled aluminum powder 43) .…”

Effect of occupational aluminum exposure on cognitive function among informal aluminum foundry industry workers

“…Meanwhile, Sinczuk-Walczak et al 10 reported that the average urinary aluminium level of workers exposed to aluminium in the aluminium foundry was 42.9 µg/L. Guo et al 18 reported that the average urinary aluminium level of workers exposed to aluminium at an aluminium production plant was 29.86 µg/L and 41.79 µg/g of creatinine after being corrected for creatinine. From all these reports, urinary aluminium levels in informal aluminium foundry industry workers in this study fall in the range of urinary aluminium levels reported by other studies in workers exposed to aluminium in the aluminium smelting/foundry/production industry.…”