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This study was designed to evaluate the influence of occupational and non-occupational factors on urinary arsenic excretion in workers exposed to iAs (inorganic arsenic) in the dismantlement of a factory which once produced fertilisers. We measured iAs and its methylated metabolites in 108 urinary samples of workers exposed to iAs in July 2006. A total of 13.9% of the samples showed levels higher than the Biological Exposure Index (BEI) of 35 microg/l (mean value 23.9 microg/l). After the improvement of working conditions, in August-October 2006 we collected urinary samples from each of the 108 workers enrolled. We also administrated a questionnaire, in order to investigate the influence of occupational and non-occupational factors on the urinary arsenic excretion. A significant difference was observed in relation with seafood consumption and age stratification. We have found a significant reduction of urinary arsenic excretion between the two phases of biological monitoring, probably due to appropriate hygiene work-related interventions.

Inorganic arsenic and its methylated metabolities were measured in 108 spot urine samples obtained from the medical surveillance programme of workers exposed to inorganic Arsenic in July 2006. 15% of the samples showed levels higher than limit value of 35 microg/L (mean value 23,9 microg/L). After the improvement of the working conditions, in August-October 2006, we collected a urinary sample from each of the 108 workers enrolled. A questionnaire was also administrated, in order to investigate the influence of occupational and non occupational factors on the urinary arsenic excretion. The median value of urinary arsenic was 15,12 microg/L; among the 108 samples, 5% showed levels higher than limit value. A significant difference was observed in relation with sea-food consumption and aging stratification. In conclusion, we have described a significant reduction of urinary arsenic excretion between the two phases of biological monitoring, likely due to a proper hygienic work-related intervention.

Background: Inorganic lead can interfere with humoral and especially cell-mediated immunity even at frequently occurring (<50 microg/dl) blood lead (Pb-B) levels. Occupational exposure to lead causes a primary impairment of the chemotactic and phagocytic activities of neutrophil leucocytes., Objective: To verify whether, after taking into account the main confounding factors, occupational lead exposure is shown to induce changes in the number of blood neutrophil leucocytes, and to assess a possible dose-response relationship between Pb-B and the circulating neutrophil count in exposed workers., Subjects and Methods: The study included 68 male lead-exposed (E) workers and 59 male workers in a food plant, recruited as controls (NE). A standardized questionnaire probing work, social, familial and personal medical history was administered to all the subjects. Blood and urine samples were collected to determine the dose and effect biological indices of lead and the total white blood cell and neutrophil counts., Results: Pb-B levels were significantly higher in E (geometric mean (GM): 20.5 microg/dl; 3.2-120 microg/dl) than in NE workers (GM: 3.5 microg/dl; 1-11 microg/dl). The mean absolute neutrophil count (ANC) was significantly higher in E workers with respect to NE workers. ANC correlated significantly with the biological lead dose and effect indices. Moreover, there was a dose-dependent increase of ANC with increasing Pb-B levels. The linear relationship between ANC and Pb-B was confirmed even after correction for age, body mass index and smoking habit. We also found an interaction between Pb-B level and smoking habit in increasing the number of blood neutrophils in lead-exposed workers., Conclusion: Our study is the first to describe a dose-dependent effect of lead on ANC in exposed workers. Our results underline the importance of promoting a further reduction of occupational lead exposure levels, adopting adequate individual protection means, as well as conducting medical campaigns against smoking, at the workplace.

Introduction: Urinary inorganic arsenic is an expression of occupational exposure to the metal, provided that there is no history of ingestion of foods containing high concentrations of inorganic and/or organic arsenic. The present study was conducted to assess the contribution of professional and environmental exposure to inorganic arsenic on urinary excretion of the metal., Materials and Methods: We examined 195 workers at a steelfoundry in Taranto, exposed to very low concentrations of inorganic arsenic and two control groups consisting of 105 subjects resident near the factory and 144 subjects resident approximately 20 Km away. All participants were administered a questionnaire enquiring about general characteristics, lifestyle, occupational and extra occupational exposure to arsenic. Urinary arsenic was determined by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry., Results: Exposed and non exposed subjects were similar as regards general characteristics and lifestyle. The environmental concentration of arsenic for the foundryworkers was invariably lower than 0.1 microg/m3. Urinary excretion of arsenic was higher in the subjects in all three groups, examined singly and together, if they had eaten crustaceans and/or shellfish in the three days before urine collection. There was a significant positive correlation with the consumption of shellfish and a significant negative correlation with the number of days since the last crustacean/shellfish meal. Multiple regression analysis showed a dependence of urinary elimination of arsenic on the days since the last crustacean/shellfish meal., Discussion: The absence of occupational exposure to arsenic allowed us to attribute the higher urinary elimination of arsenic to ingestion of crustaceans and/or shellfish in the three days before collection of the urine, both in subjects exposed to inorganic arsenic and in the two groups belonging to the general population. Our results support the hypothesis that inorganic arsenic, determined by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry, may derive from the catabolism of organic arsenic compounds contained in crustaceans and/or shellfish included in the diet.

The effects of low-dose lead occupational exposure on neurobehavioral functions are still not well defined by international literature. The objective of this study is to assess by psychometric testing the presence of possible neuropsychological impairment in a group of male Italian workers with low blood lead levels in comparison to an adequate non exposed worker group. Given informed consent to take part to the study, all workers were interviewed about their working and clinical history and underwent determination of blood lead levels (PbB). An internationally validated computerized battery of psychometric tests and a standardized paper-and-pencil version of mood self-rating scale and WAIS-R Vocabulary subtest were also administered to the workers. Exposed workers had a geometric mean of PbB significantly higher than non exposed workers, but rather low (16.4 +/- 1.7 microg/dl). The results of psychometric tests were not significantly different between the two worker groups, even after adjusting for the main confounding factors. In workers exposed to low lead doses no neurobehavioral abnormalities were demonstrated by the administered psychometric test battery.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of occupational exposure to low inorganic lead (Pb) doses on blood pressure of exposed (E) workers. 44 workers of a foundry of lead wrecks and 14 workers employed in enameling and decoration of a manufacturing firm of artistic ceramics were examined. The group of non-exposed (NE) subjects is formed by 59 workers of packaging unit of a food industry. A questionnaire has been administered to all the workers on general characteristics and life habits. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were also measured and venous blood collection performed for the determination of blood lead levels. Mean blood lead levels (PbB) and mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) resulted significantly higher in the group of exposed workers of the foundry. Stratifing exposed workers with respect to the median of PbB (18 micrograms/dl), workers with PbB > 18 micrograms/dl presented a mean DBP significantly higher than exposed with PbB < or = 18 micrograms/dl and non-exposed subjects. PbB takes part significantly in determination of DBP, also considering main confounding factors as age, BMI, pack-years and alcohol consumption.

The aim of the research was to assess the contribution of dental amalgams and other non-occupational factors of exposure to inorganic mercury (diet, etc.) to the quantity of mercury excreted with urine in workers exposed to low level concentrations of inorganic mercury. Two groups of workers (Groups I and II) were studied who were exposed to low and different environmental concentrations of inorganic mercury. These two groups were compared with a group of subjects not occupationally exposed to mercury in the same geographical area (Group III). All subjects were administered a questionnaire concerning personal data, lifestyle, recent removal and/or insertion of dental amalgam fillings, presence of nasal obstruction or bruxism and consumption of fish. The number of amalgam-filled teeth was established for each subject. Mean environmental exposure to inorganic mercury was 0.0087 mg/m3 for Group I and 0.0030 mg/m3 for Group II. Urinary excretion in the 3 groups was 4.2 +/- 2.8 micrograms/l for Group I, 3.0 +/- 2.1 micrograms/l for Group II and 1.6 +/- 1.2 micrograms/l for Group III. The results showed that of the factors of exposure to inorganic mercury, only occupational exposure (T = 9.18; p = 0.000) and the number of amalgam-filled teeth (T = 2.03; p = 0.043) were able to influence significantly urinary excretion of mercury; the sources of non-occupational exposure did not appear to play any role. The contribution of each amalgam filling to urinary mercury excretion was calculated to be 0.08 microgram/l. Occupational exposure therefore, even at low level doses, is still the main cause of urinary mercury excretion in workers exposed to inorganic mercury; of the non-occupational exposure factors, a significant role is played by amalgam dental fillings, whose contribution needs to be taken into consideration in order to make a correct interpretation of the results of biological monitoring of exposed workers.