Occupational fluoride exposure and plasma fluoride levels in man

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Toxicology
• Industrial Hygiene

Background:

• Aluminum plant workers face potential fluoride exposure.
• Understanding fluoride's impact on body fluids is crucial for worker health.
• Existing methods for assessing fluoride exposure may have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify individual fluoride exposure in aluminum plant workers.
• To correlate exposure levels with body fluid fluoride concentrations.
• To evaluate methods for monitoring fluoride burden and preventing inhalation.

Main Methods:

• Personal air sampling for total and gaseous fluoride.
• Plasma fluoride level determination before and after an 8-hour shift.
• Pre- and post-shift urine fluoride excretion measurement.
• Correlation analysis between exposure, body fluids, and urinary flow.

Main Results:

• Average total fluoride exposure was 0.91 mg/m³, with 34% being gaseous.
• Plasma fluoride levels increased significantly during the shift but remained within acceptable ranges.
• High fluid intake correlated with increased fluoride renal clearance and urinary flow.
• Gaseous fluoride exposure strongly correlated with plasma fluoride levels and urinary excretion.
• Safety mask use reduced fluoride inhalation by 30-40%.

Conclusions:

• Individual fluoride exposure and body burden are better quantified by plasma and urinary excretion than urine concentration alone.
• Increased fluid intake aids in fluoride excretion.
• Safety masks are effective in reducing occupational fluoride inhalation in aluminum plant settings.