Neglected exposure route: cobalt on skin and its associations with urinary cobalt levels.
Occup Environ Med
; 75(11): 837-842, 2018 11.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30173144
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
Cobalt (Co) exposure is associated with adverse health effects including skin sensitisation, asthma and interstitial lung fibrosis. Exposure to Co in industrial settings is often assessed using air samples or biomonitoring in urine. Skin exposure is rarely measured. Aim of this study was to quantify and compare the importance of Co skin exposure and respiratory exposure in determining urinary Co concentrations.METHODS:
Co skin exposure was measured in 76 hard metal workers by acid wipe sampling before and at the end of work shifts. Spot urine was collected during a 24-hour period from the start of a shift. Respiratory exposure was measured by personal inhalable dust sampling during a shift in 30 workers. Co was analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.RESULTS:
Quantile regression modelling showed that a doubling of Co on skin before or at the end of shift increased the median urinary concentration of Co by 70% (p<0.001) or 32% (p<0.001), respectively. A doubling of Co in air increased median urinary Co by 38% (p<0.001). Co skin exposures were still significantly associated with urinary Co after excluding a group of workers with high respiratory exposure (33%, p=0.021 and 17%, p=0.002).CONCLUSIONS:
The results indicate an association between Co skin exposure and urinary Co concentrations. This should be considered when using urinary Co as a biomarker of exposure.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Pele
/
Exposição Ocupacional
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Cobalto
/
Exposição por Inalação
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Poluentes Ocupacionais do Ar
/
Metalurgia
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Occup Environ Med
Assunto da revista:
MEDICINA OCUPACIONAL
/
SAUDE AMBIENTAL
Ano de publicação:
2018
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Suécia