Urinary thallium: Critical problems, reference values and preliminary results of an investigation in workers with suspected industrial exposure

doi:10.1016/0048-9697(88)90226-4

Science of The Total Environment

Volume 71, Issue 3, 1 June 1988, Pages 513-518

https://doi.org/10.1016/0048-9697(88)90226-4 Get rights and content

Abstract

Using a sensitive ETA ASS method, urinary thallium (TlU) has been measured in a group of non-exposed individuals and in two groups of workers with suspected industrial exposure. In non-exposed subjects (72 healthy males aged 41 ± 11 years) the TlU mean value was 0.22 μ/l (range 0.05 – 0.61). Significantly higher values were found in two groups of workers (30 and 21 subjects) employed in two cement factories and two cast iron foundries (mean TlU value: 0.38 and 0.33 μ/l, respectively; range 0.06 – 1.2). Thallium has been determined in coal, raw materials and, in one factory, also in environmental samples, but no detectable levels were found.

The analytical problems connected to urinary thallium determination and the preliminary results of biological monitoring in non-exposed individuals and in workers are discussed.

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Occupational exposure of foundry workers assessed by the urinary concentrations of 18 elements and arsenic species
2020, Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology
Citation Excerpt :
Thus, biomonitoring is mandatory in many countries. Worldwide, several studies have provided evidence of the correlation between the presence of inorganic contaminants on human fluids and occupational exposure of workers from metal production industrial plants [8–13] and the most common elements monitored were As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb. Campo et al. [14] have analyzed urinary levels of 12 metals (As, Ba, Cd, Cu, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Tl, V, Pb and Zn) from 89 workers from an electric steel foundry in Tunisia and reported values above biological limits values for Cd.
Some raw materials applied in Fe foundry industries may contain potentially toxic elements. Thus, foundry worker’s occupational exposure is a constant health concern.
In this study, 194 urine samples from foundry workers were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for biomonitoring of Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, I, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, Se, U and Zn. Moreover, arsenic speciation was performed in representative samples of production sector workers (group A) and administration sector workers (group B).
Concentrations of As, Pb, Cd, Cu, Cs, I, Sb in urines from group A were higher than those found for group B. Samples of group A presented Cs, Ni, Mn, Pb, U and Zn concentrations higher than values reported for exposed workers assessed by other studies. Forty-four samples from group A exceed As-reference limits. Group A had approximately seven times more inorganic As (as arsenite) and 14 times more organic As (as dimethyl As) than group B. A statistically significant difference was observed in the elemental concentration in the workers' urine by the time in the function. Moreover, alcohol consumption is probably influencing the urine concentration of As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, I, Se and Zn.
The monitored foundry workers are exposed to potentially toxic elements and more attention must be given to their health. Therefore, workplace safety conditions must be improved, and constant biomonitoring is necessary to ensure workers' health.
Thallium exposure at low concentration leads to early damage on multiple organs in children: A case study followed-up for four years
2020, Environmental Pollution
Citation Excerpt :
Regarding the environmental health standard of TI, the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that urinary Tl concentration less than 0.5 μg/L would not result in adverse health outcomes, but the risk and severity of the adverse health effects of TI in the range of 5–500 μg/L are uncertain (IPCS, 1996). The accepted maximum urinary TI concentration is less than 1 μg/L for the “non-exposed” humans in the world (Apostoli et al. 1988). According to the standard diagnostic criteria for occupational TI poisoning (GBZ 226-2010) established by the Hygiene Ministry of China, the biological exposure limit of TI in the urine is 5 μg/L for public and 20 μg/L for occupational workers.
Thallium (TI) is one of the most toxic heavy metals and priority pollutant metals. The emerging TI environmental pollution worldwide has posed a great threat to human health. However, based on the World Health Organization (WHO), the risk and severity of adverse health effects of TI in the range of 5–500 μg/L are uncertain. Moreover, evidence regarding the adverse impacts of TI on children’s health is still insufficient. Herein, we aim to investigate the early adverse effects of TI on children’s health and provide references for the WHO to establish stricter safety limits of TI. From 2015 to 2019, urinary TI and many clinical laboratory parameters related to blood routine, hepatic, renal, myocardial, coagulation function and serum electrolyte were measured in six children aged 1–9 years. The urinary TI concentration ranged from 13.4 μg/L to 60.1 μg/L with a mean of 36.1 μg/L and a median of 34.8 μg/L in six children in 2015. Although only four children felt a little poor appetite, several laboratory abnormalities indicated early damage in liver, renal, and myocardial functions in all children in 2015. After treatment and following up for four years, although the children’s TI concentration decreased below 5 μg/L, their liver and renal functions did not completely recover, and their myocardial function worsened. Results indicated that impaired liver, renal, and myocardial functions were closely associated with elevated urinary TI concentration in children. Considering the increasing use of TI in high-technology industries and emerging TI environmental-contamination zones worldwide, establishing stricter safety limits of TI and paying more attention to the adverse health effects of TI on children are urgently required.
We found that a relatively low concentration of thallium (13.4 μg/L to 60.1 μg/L) impaired liver, renal, and myocardial function in six children. After treatment and following up these children for four years, although their urinary TI concentration decreased below 5 μg/L, their liver and renal functions did not completely recover, and their myocardial function worsened.
Trace element reference values in tissues from inhabitants of the European Union. VIII. Thallium in the Italian population
1994, Science of the Total Environment, The
In order to establish reference values of thallium in tissues of the general population the element was determined in blood (TIB) and urine (TIU) of 123 healthy inhabitants living in the Marche region, Central Italy. The analysis was carried out by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS; detection limit in our experimental conditions, 0.001 μg Tl/I), which was validated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) and laser induced fluorecence (LIF) spectroscopy. The check of pre-analytical factors indicated a low risk of contamination and loss of Tl during sampling, handling and storage before the instrumental analysis (blank of the entire procedure less than the detection limit). Mean values of TIU and T1B were 0.066 μg Tl/1 and 0.063 μg Tl/1, respectively (median in both cases 0.057 μg Tl/1). No conclusive evidence concerning the distribution followed by our data set, normal or log-normal, were drawn, although Lilliefors test and Kolmogorov's D-test showed a tendency for T1B to follow both the normal and the log-normal while T1U followed a log-normal distribution. Overall correlations between T1U and T1B are rather weak. A significant, but not high, correlation (P < 0.0004, r = 0.44) was observed in females. Age, sex, smoking habits and alcohol consumption did not seem to play any role on T1U and T1B. Tentatively proposed reference intervals are 0.019–0.17 μg Tl/l (urine) and 0.014–0.19 μg Tl/l (blood).
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2020, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Heavy metals identification & exposure at workplace environment its extent of accumulation in blood of iron & steel recycling foundry workers of Lahore, Pakistan
2017, Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
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2012, Pollutants, Human Health and the Environment: A Risk Based Approach

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Selected communicationUrinary thallium: Critical problems, reference values and preliminary results of an investigation in workers with suspected industrial exposure

Abstract

Sci. Total Environ.

Sci. Total Environ.

Investigation of thallium-exposed workers in cement factories

Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health

Intake and health effects of thallium among a population living in the vicinity of a cement plant emitting thallium containing dust

Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health

Neurotoxicity of selected metals

Industrial chemical exposure: guidelines for biological monitoring

Selected communication
Urinary thallium: Critical problems, reference values and preliminary results of an investigation in workers with suspected industrial exposure