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Zinc exposure in Chinese foundry workers
C J Martin1, X C Le, T L Guidotti
1Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
|May 20, 1999
Summary
Workers exposed to high levels of zinc oxide fumes did not develop metal fume fever. Urinary zinc levels correlated with exposure, suggesting urine is a useful biomarker for zinc exposure.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Environmental Toxicology
- Industrial Hygiene
Background:
- Inhalational exposure to zinc oxide fumes can cause metal fume fever, an influenza-like illness.
- Understanding zinc toxicokinetics is crucial for interpreting biological monitoring data.
- Current knowledge on inhaled zinc toxicokinetics is limited, complicating exposure assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between zinc exposure and metal fume fever in foundry workers.
- To assess the utility of serum and urine zinc levels as biomarkers of exposure.
- To establish exposure thresholds for tolerance to metal fume fever.
Main Methods:
- Studied 20 zinc foundry workers in China.
- Conducted serial physician examinations, chest radiographs, and spirometry.
- Measured zinc in serum, urine, and personal air samples.
Main Results:
- No cases of metal fume fever were observed despite high zinc fume exposures (up to 36.3 mg/m3).
- Serum zinc levels remained within the reference range and did not correlate with exposure.
- Elevated urinary zinc levels showed a significant association with zinc exposure (r=0.47, P=0.04).
Conclusions:
- Identified zinc exposure levels at which workers tolerate metal fume fever.
- Urinary zinc appears to be a preferred biomarker for assessing zinc exposure.
- Findings contribute to understanding occupational health risks in zinc foundries.