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Biological monitoring of tungsten (and cobalt) in workers of a hard metal alloy industry

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Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate a combined biomonitoring approach based on both cobalt and tungsten determination in workers of the hard metal alloy sector.

Methods

We enrolled 55 workers from a factory producing cutting tools for carpentry. Combined workroom air and biological monitoring of both cobalt and tungsten relied on inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry determinations. Metals were determined on plasma, blood and urine samples. Urine samples from 34 unexposed subjects were also analyzed.

Results

Tungsten was determined in every collected sample. Workers showed significantly higher urinary tungsten levels than controls (pre-shift values of 4.12 vs. 0.06 μg/l on average; P < 0.0005). Both airborne and biological levels of tungsten prevailed among workers involved in wet-grinding activities. The element was excreted at higher urinary levels than cobalt and showed lower circulating (blood, plasma) concentrations. Exposure–dose relationships were apparent for tungsten biomarkers.

Conclusions

Obtained results may contribute to the development of biomarkers of exposure to tungsten. The association of such biomarkers to traditional determinations of cobalt in blood and/or urine may substantially improve the exposure assessment of workers employed in cemented carbide industries.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental and Applied Medicine, Section of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

    Giuseppe De Palma, Michela Sarnico & Pietro Apostoli

  2. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Prevention (ISPESL), Research Center at the University of Parma, Parma, Italy

    Paola Manini

  3. Via Piemonte 50/4, Udine, Italy

    Stefania Molinari

Authors
  1. Giuseppe De Palma
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  2. Paola Manini
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  3. Michela Sarnico
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  4. Stefania Molinari
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  5. Pietro Apostoli
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giuseppe De Palma.

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De Palma, G., Manini, P., Sarnico, M. et al. Biological monitoring of tungsten (and cobalt) in workers of a hard metal alloy industry. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 83, 173–181 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-009-0434-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-009-0434-5

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