Longitudinal study on potential neurotoxic effects of aluminium: I. Assessment of exposure and neurobehavioural performance of Al welders in the train and truck construction industry over 4 years

Kiesswetter, Ernst; Schäper, Michael; Buchta, M.; Schaller, K. H.; Roßbach, Bernd; Scherhag, H.; Zschiesche, W; Letzel, Stephan

doi:10.1007/s00420-007-0191-2

Cited by 50 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 43 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…This study and many previous ones (2)(3)(4)(5)11,13,14) show that exposure to aluminum welding fumes can be Riihimäki et al of concern because the intake can lead to significant rapid systemic absorption of aluminum and, in the long term, to the development of a remarkable lung burden, as well as to an abnormally large body burden in the skeleton. The concern also applies to other processes involving the generation of vapor condensation fumes of aluminum (arc spraying, plasma cutting), as well as to the manufacture of finely divided aluminum powder (3,(15)(16)(17).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Behavior of aluminum in aluminum welders and manufacturers of aluminum sulfate—impact on biological monitoring

Riihimäki¹,

Valkonen²,

Engström³

et al. 2008

Scand J Work Environ Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Riihimäki V, Valkonen S, Engström B, Tossavainen A, Mutanen P, Aitio A. Behavior of aluminum in aluminum welders and manufacturers of aluminum sulfate-impact on biological monitoring. Scand J Work Environ Health 2008;34(6):451-462. ObjectivesThe suitability of determining aluminum in serum or urine as a form of biological monitoring was critically assessed.Methods Airborne and internal aluminum exposure was assessed for 12 aluminum welders in a shipyard and 5 manufacturers of aluminum sulfate. Particles were characterized with X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Aluminum in air and biological samples was analyzed using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Basic toxicokinetic features were inferred from the data. ResultsThe mean 8-hour time-weighted average concentration of aluminum was 1.1 (range 0.008-6.1) mg/m 3 for the shipyard and 0.13 (range 0.02-0.5) mg/m 3 for the aluminum sulfate plant. Welding fume contained aluminum oxide particles <0.1 µm in diameter and their agglomerates, whereas bauxite and aluminum sulfate particles ranged from 1 to 10 µm in diameter. The shipyard welders' mean postshift serum and urinary concentrations of aluminum (S-Al and U-Al, respectively) were 0.22 and 3.4 µmol/l, respectively, and the aluminum sulfate workers' corresponding values were 0.13 and 0.58 µmol/l. Between two shifts, the welders' S-Al concentration decreased by about 50% (P<0.01), but their U-Al concentration did not change (P=0.64). No corresponding temporal changes occurred among the aluminum sulfate workers. After aluminum welding at the shipyard had ceased, the median S-Al concentration decreased by about 50% (P=0.007) within a year, but there was no change (P=0.75) in the corresponding U-Al concentration.Conclusions About 1% of aluminum in welding fume appears to be rapidly absorbed from the lungs, whereas an undetermined fraction is retained and forms a lung burden. A higher fractional absorption of aluminum seems possible for aluminum sulfate workers without evidence of a lung burden. After rapid absorption, aluminum is slowly mobilized from the lung burden and dominates the S-Al and U-Al concentrations of aluminum welders. For kinetic reasons, S-Al or U-Al concentrations cannot be used to estimate the accumulation of aluminum in the target organs of toxicity. However, using U-Al analysis to monitor aluminum welders' lung burden seems practical.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Behavior of aluminum in aluminum welders and manufacturers of aluminum sulfate—impact on biological monitoring

Riihimäki¹,

Valkonen²,

Engström³

et al. 2008

Scand J Work Environ Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Accordingly, the explained variance in the linear regression model is higher for Al/g creatinine (R 2 = 0.34) than for Al-plasma (R 2 = 0.12). The two outliers were not excluded, as the values are not unrealistic and Wt to the relationships found in the high exposure study (Kiesswetter et al 2007). Furthermore, it was ascertained that they have only minimal inXuence on the parameter estimates of the linear model.…”

Section: Intercorrelation and Temporal Stability Of Biomonitoring Datamentioning

confidence: 92%

“…There are few systematic studies focussing on the reliability, stability, and validity of Al-exposure measures (Gitelman et al 1995;Letzel et al 1999;Rossbach et al 2006) and even less considering these aspects in combination with psychometric measurements (Kiesswetter et al 2007). The bulk of neurobehavioral Al-studies is cross-sectional and the used spot measurements of biomonitoring variables diVer concerning type, number, time of day, and distance to neurobehavioral measurements.…”

Section: Al-biomonitoring Featuresmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…This second longitudinal aluminium-welder study was carried out in the automobile industry (study II, A-study) and corresponds with the Wrst published study in the train and truck construction industry (study I, T-study, Kiesswetter et al 2007;Buchta et al 2005) concerning date of the investigation, study aims, and used methods. Both studies focused on potential neurotoxic eVects of aluminium (Al) welding and examined Al welders with neurobehavioral methods during a period of 4 years.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Critical points of the cross sectional studies are: (1) lacking quality of exposure measurements, (2) lacking comparability of Al exposed subjects and referents, (3) statistical and interpretative overestimation of selected signiWcances, and (4) inconsistent result patterns across studies (Kiesswetter et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Longitudinal study on potential neurotoxic effects of aluminium: II. Assessment of exposure and neurobehavioral performance of Al welders in the automobile industry over 4 years

Kiesswetter

Schäper

Buchta³

et al. 2009

Int Arch Occup Environ Health

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The biomonitoring and neurobehavioral results are in line with the results of the first published study. The repeated measurement models of both studies showed no adverse neurobehavioral effects of Al welding. A modular lifetime-oriented research concept is outlined aiming at the investigation of sequential periods of exposure life with special focus on the biologically most sensitive phases like first exposure and old age.

show abstract

Aluminum Industrial Health and Safety

Willhite,

Karyakina,

Yenugadhati

et al. 2023

Patty's Toxicology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Due to its versatility and unique properties, aluminum finds use in a wide variety of industrial and commercial applications. Occupational exposure to aluminum‐containing particulates or fumes at high levels can lead to potential occupational health risks. The inhalation toxicity of low soluble aluminum oxide is determined in most by particulate effects, including particle overload. Long‐term inhalation can cause pulmonary irritation, fibrosis, and occupational asthma. Accumulation of low soluble aluminum particles can overwhelm alveolar clearance and play a dominant role in lung irritation. The role of aluminum in the etiology of “potroom asthma” is uncertain due to the presence of co‐pollutants such as fluorides and sulfur dioxide. At present, there remains no convincing evidence that exposure to aluminum contributes to the development of Alzheimer's disease. Aluminum smelter workers have been shown to be at increased risk of lung and bladder cancer, but this is ascribed to pitch smoke and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. No epidemiologic studies have examined pulmonary response after long‐term inhalation of aluminum oxide or hydroxide‐engineered nanomaterials. The European Chemicals Agency has developed new guidance on the development of health‐based occupational exposure limits in order to align REACH guidance with occupational health and safety legislation.

show abstract

Longitudinal study on potential neurotoxic effects of aluminium: I. Assessment of exposure and neurobehavioural performance of Al welders in the train and truck construction industry over 4 years

Cited by 50 publications

References 43 publications

Behavior of aluminum in aluminum welders and manufacturers of aluminum sulfate—impact on biological monitoring

Behavior of aluminum in aluminum welders and manufacturers of aluminum sulfate—impact on biological monitoring

Longitudinal study on potential neurotoxic effects of aluminium: II. Assessment of exposure and neurobehavioral performance of Al welders in the automobile industry over 4 years

Aluminum Industrial Health and Safety

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About