Arsenic trioxide absorption and excretion in industry

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Toxicology
• Biomonitoring

Background:

• Routine exposure to arsenic trioxide in industrial settings poses health risks.
• Assessing arsenic trioxide absorption and excretion is crucial for occupational health monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the absorption and excretion characteristics of arsenic trioxide in occupationally exposed individuals.
• To establish correlations between airborne arsenic trioxide concentrations and urinary arsenic levels.
• To determine the rate of urinary arsenic decrease after cessation of exposure and identify confounding factors.

Main Methods:

• Personal air monitoring for airborne arsenic trioxide concentrations over five consecutive work days.
• Measurement of urinary arsenic values in smelter workers before, during, and after exposure.
• Analysis of urinary arsenic levels in a control group of non-exposed adult males.
• Investigation of the impact of seafood consumption on urinary arsenic values.

Main Results:

• A significant correlation was observed between airborne arsenic trioxide (As2O3) below 300 µg/m³ and urinary arsenic below 500 µg/L.
• Exposure to average airborne arsenic concentrations of 70 µg/m³ (as As2O3) increased urinary arsenic by 32% (from 152 to 200 µg/L).
• Urinary arsenic elimination rates varied: 9.5% daily decrease for levels <200 µg/L and 21% daily decrease for levels >600 µg/L.
• Seafood consumption dramatically altered urinary arsenic values within 24 hours.

Conclusions:

• Urinary arsenic levels reflect occupational exposure to arsenic trioxide, with a notable correlation at lower concentrations.
• Post-exposure urinary arsenic declines, with faster elimination at higher initial levels.
• To accurately assess industrial arsenic trioxide exposure, urine samples should be collected at least two days after seafood consumption.