Abstract
OBJECTIVE—To investigate possible neurotoxic effects in groups of aluminium pot room and foundry workers, aluminium welders, and a small group of workers exposed to aluminium in the production of flake powder. METHODS—Exposure to aluminium was evaluated with aluminium concentrations in blood and urine as well as a questionnaire. The groups exposed to aluminium were compared with a group of mild steel welders. Neurotoxic effects were studied with mood and symptom questionnaires and several psychological and neurophysiological tests. RESULTS—The pot room and foundry workers showed very low aluminium uptake as their aluminium concentrations in blood and urine were close to normal, and no effects on the nervous system were detected. The group of workers exposed to flake powder had high concentrations of aluminium in blood and urine, even higher than those of the aluminium welders. However, aluminium could not be shown to affect the functioning of the nervous system in flake powder producers. Although significant effects could not be shown in the present analysis of the data on welders, the performance of the welders exposed to high concentrations of aluminium was affected according to the analyses in the original paper from this group. CONCLUSIONS—For the pot room and foundry workers no effects related to the exposure to aluminium could be found. For the group of flake powder producers exposed for a short term no effects on the nervous systems were evident despite high levels of exposure. Due to the high concentrations of aluminium in the biological samples of this group, measures to reduce the exposure to aluminium are recommended, as effects on the central nervous system might develop after protracted exposures. However, this assumption needs to be verified in further studies. Keywords: aluminium; workers; nervous system
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (132.1 KB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Akila R., Stollery B. T., Riihimäki V. Decrements in cognitive performance in metal inert gas welders exposed to aluminium. Occup Environ Med. 1999 Sep;56(9):632–639. doi: 10.1136/oem.56.9.632. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Alfrey A. C., LeGendre G. R., Kaehny W. D. The dialysis encephalopathy syndrome. Possible aluminum intoxication. N Engl J Med. 1976 Jan 22;294(4):184–188. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197601222940402. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Baldwin M., Mergler D., Larribe F., Bélanger S., Tardif R., Bilodeau L., Hudnell K. Bioindicator and exposure data for a population based study of manganese. Neurotoxicology. 1999 Apr-Jun;20(2-3):343–353. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bast-Pettersen R., Drabløs P. A., Goffeng L. O., Thomassen Y., Torres C. G. Neuropsychological deficit among elderly workers in aluminum production. Am J Ind Med. 1994 May;25(5):649–662. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700250505. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bast-Pettersen R., Skaug V., Ellingsen D., Thomassen Y. Neurobehavioral performance in aluminum welders. Am J Ind Med. 2000 Feb;37(2):184–192. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(200002)37:2<184::aid-ajim4>3.0.co;2-o. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Dick R. B., Krieg E. F., Jr, Sim M. A., Bernard B. P., Taylor B. T. Evaluation of tremor in aluminum production workers. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 1997 Nov-Dec;19(6):447–453. doi: 10.1016/s0892-0362(97)00061-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hosovski E., Mastelica Z., Sunderić D., Radulović D. Mental abilities of workers exposed to aluminium. Med Lav. 1990 Mar-Apr;81(2):119–123. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hänninen H., Matikainen E., Kovala T., Valkonen S., Riihimäki V. Internal load of aluminum and the central nervous system function of aluminum welders. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1994 Aug;20(4):279–285. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.1397. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Iregren A., Gamberale F., Kjellberg A. SPES: a psychological test system to diagnose environmental hazards. Swedish Performance Evaluation System. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 1996 Jul-Aug;18(4):485–491. doi: 10.1016/0892-0362(96)00033-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ljunggren K. G., Lidums V., Sjögren B. Blood and urine concentrations of aluminium among workers exposed to aluminium flake powders. Br J Ind Med. 1991 Feb;48(2):106–109. doi: 10.1136/oem.48.2.106. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pierre F., Baruthio F., Diebold F., Biette P. Effect of different exposure compounds on urinary kinetics of aluminium and fluoride in industrially exposed workers. Occup Environ Med. 1995 Jun;52(6):396–403. doi: 10.1136/oem.52.6.396. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rifat S. L., Eastwood M. R., McLachlan D. R., Corey P. N. Effect of exposure of miners to aluminium powder. Lancet. 1990 Nov 10;336(8724):1162–1165. doi: 10.1016/0140-6736(90)92775-d. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Riihimäki V., Hänninen H., Akila R., Kovala T., Kuosma E., Paakkulainen H., Valkonen S., Engström B. Body burden of aluminum in relation to central nervous system function among metal inert-gas welders. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2000 Apr;26(2):118–130. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.521. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Savory J., Exley C., Forbes W. F., Huang Y., Joshi J. G., Kruck T., McLachlan D. R., Wakayama I. Can the controversy of the role of aluminum in Alzheimer's disease be resolved? What are the suggested approaches to this controversy and methodological issues to be considered? J Toxicol Environ Health. 1996 Aug 30;48(6):615–635. doi: 10.1080/009841096161104. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sim M., Dick R., Russo J., Bernard B., Grubb P., Krieg E., Jr, Mueller C., McCammon C. Are aluminium potroom workers at increased risk of neurological disorders? Occup Environ Med. 1997 Apr;54(4):229–235. doi: 10.1136/oem.54.4.229. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sjögren B., Elinder C. G., Lidums V., Chang G. Uptake and urinary excretion of aluminum among welders. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1988;60(2):77–79. doi: 10.1007/BF00381484. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sjögren B., Gustavsson P., Hogstedt C. Neuropsychiatric symptoms among welders exposed to neurotoxic metals. Br J Ind Med. 1990 Oct;47(10):704–707. doi: 10.1136/oem.47.10.704. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sjögren B., Iregren A., Frech W., Hagman M., Johansson L., Tesarz M., Wennberg A. Effects on the nervous system among welders exposed to aluminium and manganese. Occup Environ Med. 1996 Jan;53(1):32–40. doi: 10.1136/oem.53.1.32. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sjögren B., Lundberg I., Lidums V. Aluminium in the blood and urine of industrially exposed workers. Br J Ind Med. 1983 Aug;40(3):301–304. doi: 10.1136/oem.40.3.301. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- White D. M., Longstreth W. T., Jr, Rosenstock L., Claypoole K. H., Brodkin C. A., Townes B. D. Neurologic syndrome in 25 workers from an aluminum smelting plant. Arch Intern Med. 1992 Jul;152(7):1443–1448. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Yokel R. A., Provan S. D., Meyer J. J., Campbell S. R. Aluminum intoxication and the victim of Alzheimer's disease: similarities and differences. Neurotoxicology. 1988 Fall;9(3):429–442. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]