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The factors influencing urinary arsenic excretion and metabolism of workers in steel and iron smelting foundry

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 24, pages 36–41 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

In order to evaluate the degree of arsenic (As) exposure and the factors influencing urinary As excretion and metabolism, 192 workers from a steel and iron smelting plant, with different type of work in production such as roller, steel smelting, iron smelting and metallic charge preparation, were recruited. Information about characteristics of each subject was obtained by questionnaire and inorganic As (iAs), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) in urine were determined. The results showed that steel smelters had significantly higher concentrations of DMA and total As (TAs) than rollers and metallic charge preparation workers, and iron and steel smelters had a higher value of primary methylation index and lower proportion of the iAs (iAs%) than rollers and metallic charge preparation workers. In steel smelters, urinary As level exceeded the biological exposure index (BEI) limit for urinary As of 35 μg/l by 65.52%, and higher than metallic charge preparation workers (35.14%). The individuals consumed seafood in recent 3 days had a higher TAs than the individuals without seafood consumption. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that different jobs, taken Chinese medicine of bezoar and seafood consumption in recent 3 days were significantly associated with urinary TAs exceeded BEI limit value 35 μg/l. Our results suggest that workers in steel and iron smelting plant had a lower level of As exposure, and seafood consumption and taking Chinese medicine of bezoar also could increase the risk of urinary TAs exceeded BEI limit value.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (81072244).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Arsenic Biological Effect and Poisoning, School of Public Health, China Medical University, District of Heping, North Er Road, No. 92, Shenyang City, 110001, China

    Xi Shuhua, Sun Qingshan, Wang Fei, Liu Shengnan, Yan Ling, Zhang Lin, Song Yingli, Yan Nan & Sun Guifan

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  1. Xi Shuhua
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Correspondence to Sun Guifan.

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Shuhua, X., Qingshan, S., Fei, W. et al. The factors influencing urinary arsenic excretion and metabolism of workers in steel and iron smelting foundry. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 24, 36–41 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2013.2

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