Premium
Assessment of exposure to arsenic among smelter workers: A five‐year follow‐up
Author(s) -
Lagerkvist Birgitta Json,
Zetterlund Bo
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.4700250403
Subject(s) - arsenic , medicine , toxicology , surgery , metallurgy , biology , materials science
In a group of 43 smelter workers exposed to inorganic arsenic dust for 13‐45 years, nerve conduction velocities (NCVs) were significantly lower in two peripheral nerves as compared with matching referents. With multivariate data analysis, a significant negative correlation was found between cumulative absorption of arsenic and NCV in four examined nerves and the sural amplitude. Clinical symptoms of neuropathy and other symptoms related to arsenic exposure were moderate, though the difference between the groups was significant. The mean total absorption of arsenic was calculated to be less than 5 g, and the maximal absorption about 20 g. These data indicate that the adverse effect of arsenic on the peripheral nerves is dependent on long‐term exposure rather than on short‐term fluctuations in exposure levels. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.