Anosmia in Alkaline Battery Workers

Abstract

The sense of smell of 106 alkaline battery workmen exposed at their work to cadmium and nickel dust has been compared with a control group of 84 men matched for age. The battery workers reported significantly more anosmia than the controls (15% to zero) and did less well in the phenol smelling test (27 3 % to 4 8 %). Cadmium proteinuria was found in 17 of the battery workers, 11 of whom showed virtual anosmia. Figures of recent concentrations of cadmium and nickel in the atmosphere are given. The noses of 85 battery workers and 75 controls were examined. Signs of non-specific chronic irritation were more frequent in the battery workers but no significant relationship was established between this appearance and the presence of anosmia. It is concluded that the anosmia is due to exposure to cadmium or nickel dust or a mixture of the two. This is a study of olfactory acuity in a group of men employed in alkaline battery manufacture, and is divided into two parts. Part I reports on the incidence of anosmia, and Part IL deals with the results of macroscopic examination of the men's noses. This was undertaken to determine whether specific changes could be observed in the nasal mucosa and whether these, if present, could be related to olfactory acuity.Two powders are used in the manufacture of alkaline batteries: cadmium powder, which contains 60-64% of cadmium oxide and 16-18% of ferrous iron; and nickel powder, which contains 72% of nickel hydroxide and 18-20% of graphite.Anosmia was first noted in this factory in 1948.In a survey at this time it was found that of 68 men examined, 13 (19%) had anosmia and 18 (26%) had proteinuria (C. L. Potts, personal communication). Shortly before this Friberg (1948) reported on his findings of proteinuria and emphysema in alkaline battery workers in Sweden; and he also noted that some of these men had anosmia. In his paper on emphysema and proteinuria in men casting coppercadmium alloys, Bonnell (1955) noted that some of the men complained of nasal soreness, but none of them appeared to have lost the sense of smell. As a result of these discoveries, the men exposed to cadmium in this factory were offered annual medical examinations. During these examinations, which were started in 1956, particular attention was paid to renal, respiratory, and olfactory function. PART IThe results in this part of the paper are taken from the records of the examinations carried out by one of us (R.G.A.) in [1958][1959]. One hundred and six men were examined, six individuals being seen each week.A control group was obtained in 1958 from a neighbouring engineering factory in which there was no specific hazard. The names of 100 men in this factory, in approximately the same distribution in five-year age groups as the battery workers, were randomly selected. Out of this group of 100, 84 attended for examination.Olfactory Acuity In the absence of an objective test, the degree of olfactory acuity was measured by two methods.(

Olfactory dysfunction and its measurement in the clinic and workplace

“…anosmic; 10% of short-term complained Not described Adams and Crabtree (1961) Cadmium and nickel dust/fumes 106 exposed; 84 non-exposed 2.76 mg/m 3 at some sites Anosmia in 27% of exposed, 5% of non-exposed Phenyl threshold test Potts (1965) Cadmium dust/fumes 70 exposed 10-40 years UPSIT Mergler and Beauvais (1992) Toluene, xylene, or toluene/xylene mixture 5 exposed for 7 h to either toluene, xylene, or mixture 50 ppm toluene, 40 ppm xylene, or mixture Short-term reversible elevation in toluene threshold suggestive of adaptation effect Toluene and PEMEC thresholds Rose et al (1992) Cadmium fumes 55 exposed for 12 years average 0.3 mg/m 3 minimum Moderate to severe hyposmia in those with highest body burden of cadmium n-Butanol AML threshold Schwartz et al (1993) Lead 222 employees with low, moderate and high exposures.…”

Olfactory toxicity: long-term effects of occupational exposures

“…The best known is probably cadmium (Cd): a description of anosmia in exposed workers was reported at the end of the forties (Friberg 1948(Friberg , 1950, and in the following years an impairment in olfactory function related to Cd exposure was observed in alkaline batteries workers, smelters, welders, and brazing workers (Adams and Crabtree 1961;Duncan and Smith 1995;Klimek et al 1999;Liu et al 1985;Mascagni 2003;Potts 1965;Rose et al 1992;Rydzewski et al 1998;Sulkowski et al 2000;Suruda 2000).…”

Odor identification ability and self-reported upper respiratory symptoms in workers at the post-9/11 World Trade Center site

“…Decreased ability to smell, as measured by quantitative tests, is common in highly polluted urban areas (Hudson et al 2006;Calderon-Garciduenas et al 2010;Guarneros et al 2009), as well as in occupational settings where workers are chronically exposed to airborne particulates, metals, and other pollutants (Adams and Crabtree 1961;Ahlstrom et al 1986;Schwartz et al 1989;Lucchini et al 1999;Dalton et al 2003;Antunes et al 2007). While such exposure to airborne toxins is usually reflected in olfactory epithelial damage, damage to other elements of the olfactory pathway can also occur.…”