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Cadmium, copper and zinc in tissues of deceased copper smelter workers

Gerhardsson, Lars LU ; Englyst, V ; Lundstrom, NG ; Sandberg, S and Nordberg, G (2002) In Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology 16(4). p.261-266
Abstract
Workers at a copper and lead smelter in northern Sweden have a multifactorial exposure to a number of heavy metals. The concentrations of cadmium, copper and zinc in Liver, Lung, kidney and brain tissues have been deters mined by atomic absorption spectrometry in 32 deceased tong-term exposed male lead smelter workers, and compared with those of 10 male controls. Furthermore, copper and zinc Levels in hair and nails were determined by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence. The highest cadmium concentrations among both workers and controls were observed in kidney, followed in order by liver, lung and brain. The levels in kidney, Liver and Lung were all significantly higher in the workers than in the controls (p < 0.03). Among the workers... (More)
Workers at a copper and lead smelter in northern Sweden have a multifactorial exposure to a number of heavy metals. The concentrations of cadmium, copper and zinc in Liver, Lung, kidney and brain tissues have been deters mined by atomic absorption spectrometry in 32 deceased tong-term exposed male lead smelter workers, and compared with those of 10 male controls. Furthermore, copper and zinc Levels in hair and nails were determined by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence. The highest cadmium concentrations among both workers and controls were observed in kidney, followed in order by liver, lung and brain. The levels in kidney, Liver and Lung were all significantly higher in the workers than in the controls (p < 0.03). Among the workers relatively strong positive correlations (p < 0.03) were observed between cadmium concentrations in liver and lung, liver and kidney, liver and brain, and lung and brain. In the exposed workers a positive correlation was observed between cadmium and zinc concentrations in the kidney (r(s) = 0.38; p = 0.034). This is probably mainly due to the protein metallothionein, which is stored in the kidney, binding equimolar amounts of these two metals. The highest concentrations of copper were found in hair and nails among both workers and controls, followed in order by liver, brain, kidney and Lung. The tissue concentrations of copper in brain, Lung and kidney were all significantly higher among the smelter workers than in the controls (p less than or equal to 0.036). Copper Levels in lung and age at time of death were positively correlated among the exposed workers (r(s) = 0.39; p = 0.029). In the same group, positive correlations between copper and zinc concentrations in kidney (r(s) = 0.45; p = 0.009) and nails (r(s) = 0.68; p < 0.001) were also observed, reflecting possible biological interactions between these two metals. Among both workers and controls, the highest zinc concentrations were found in hair, followed in order by nails, liver, kidney, brain and lung. Significantly higher tissue concentrations among the workers as compared with the reference group were noted in kidney, liver and brain (p &LE; 0.033). Neither copper nor zinc concentrations in hair and nails seemed to provide a useful measure of the trace element status of the smelter workers.Workers at a copper and lead smelter in northern Sweden have a muttifactodal exposure to a number of heavy metals. The concentrations of cadmium, copper and zinc in Liver, Lung, kidney and brain tissues have been deters mined by atomic absorption spectrometry in 32 deceased tong-term exposed male lead smelter workers, and compared with those of 10 male controls. Furthermore, copper and zinc Levels in hair and nails were determined by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence. The highest cadmium concentrations among both workers and controls were observed in kidney, followed in order by liver, lung and brain. The levels in kidney, Liver and Lung were all significantly higher in the workers than in the controls (p < 0.03). Among the workers reLativety strong positive correlations (p < 0.03) were observed between cadmium concentrations in liver and lung, liver and kidney, liver and brain, and lung and brain. In the exposed workers a positive correlation was observed between cadmium and zinc concentrations in the kidney (r, = 0.38; p = 0.034). This is probably mainly due to the protein meta llothionei n, which is stored in the kidney, binding equimolar amounts of these two metals. The highest concentrations of copper were found in hair and nails among both workers and controls, followed in order by liver, brain, kidney and Lung. The tissue concentrations of copper in brain, Lung and kidney were all significantLy higher among the smelter workers than in the controls (p &LE;0.036). Copper Levels in lung and age at time of death were positively correlated among the exposed workers (r(s) = 0.39; p = 0.029). In the same group, positive correlations between copper and zinc concentrations in kidney (r(s) = 0.45; p = 0.009) and nails (r(x) = 0.68; p < 0.001) were also observed, reflecting possible biological interactions between these two metals. Among both workers and controls, the highest zinc concentrations were found in hair, followed in order by naits, liver, kidney, brain and lung. Significantly higher tissue concentrations among the workers as compared with the reference group were noted in kidney, liver and brain (p < 0.033). Neither copper nor zinc concentrations in hair and nails seemed to provide a useful measure of the trace element status of the smelter workers. (Less)
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Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
biological monitoring, nails, hair, soft tissues, zinc, copper, smelter workers, cadmium
in
Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology
volume
16
issue
4
pages
261 - 266
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000180299800010
  • pmid:12530590
  • scopus:12244267043
ISSN
1878-3252
DOI
10.1016/S0946-672X(02)80055-4
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
d190c9f6-9f03-4d12-9b7a-1ee3b81fbdbc (old id 319760)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:06:31
date last changed
2022-03-28 20:23:32
@article{d190c9f6-9f03-4d12-9b7a-1ee3b81fbdbc,
  abstract     = {{Workers at a copper and lead smelter in northern Sweden have a multifactorial exposure to a number of heavy metals. The concentrations of cadmium, copper and zinc in Liver, Lung, kidney and brain tissues have been deters mined by atomic absorption spectrometry in 32 deceased tong-term exposed male lead smelter workers, and compared with those of 10 male controls. Furthermore, copper and zinc Levels in hair and nails were determined by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence. The highest cadmium concentrations among both workers and controls were observed in kidney, followed in order by liver, lung and brain. The levels in kidney, Liver and Lung were all significantly higher in the workers than in the controls (p &lt; 0.03). Among the workers relatively strong positive correlations (p &lt; 0.03) were observed between cadmium concentrations in liver and lung, liver and kidney, liver and brain, and lung and brain. In the exposed workers a positive correlation was observed between cadmium and zinc concentrations in the kidney (r(s) = 0.38; p = 0.034). This is probably mainly due to the protein metallothionein, which is stored in the kidney, binding equimolar amounts of these two metals. The highest concentrations of copper were found in hair and nails among both workers and controls, followed in order by liver, brain, kidney and Lung. The tissue concentrations of copper in brain, Lung and kidney were all significantly higher among the smelter workers than in the controls (p less than or equal to 0.036). Copper Levels in lung and age at time of death were positively correlated among the exposed workers (r(s) = 0.39; p = 0.029). In the same group, positive correlations between copper and zinc concentrations in kidney (r(s) = 0.45; p = 0.009) and nails (r(s) = 0.68; p &lt; 0.001) were also observed, reflecting possible biological interactions between these two metals. Among both workers and controls, the highest zinc concentrations were found in hair, followed in order by nails, liver, kidney, brain and lung. Significantly higher tissue concentrations among the workers as compared with the reference group were noted in kidney, liver and brain (p &amp;LE; 0.033). Neither copper nor zinc concentrations in hair and nails seemed to provide a useful measure of the trace element status of the smelter workers.Workers at a copper and lead smelter in northern Sweden have a muttifactodal exposure to a number of heavy metals. The concentrations of cadmium, copper and zinc in Liver, Lung, kidney and brain tissues have been deters mined by atomic absorption spectrometry in 32 deceased tong-term exposed male lead smelter workers, and compared with those of 10 male controls. Furthermore, copper and zinc Levels in hair and nails were determined by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence. The highest cadmium concentrations among both workers and controls were observed in kidney, followed in order by liver, lung and brain. The levels in kidney, Liver and Lung were all significantly higher in the workers than in the controls (p &lt; 0.03). Among the workers reLativety strong positive correlations (p &lt; 0.03) were observed between cadmium concentrations in liver and lung, liver and kidney, liver and brain, and lung and brain. In the exposed workers a positive correlation was observed between cadmium and zinc concentrations in the kidney (r, = 0.38; p = 0.034). This is probably mainly due to the protein meta llothionei n, which is stored in the kidney, binding equimolar amounts of these two metals. The highest concentrations of copper were found in hair and nails among both workers and controls, followed in order by liver, brain, kidney and Lung. The tissue concentrations of copper in brain, Lung and kidney were all significantLy higher among the smelter workers than in the controls (p &amp;LE;0.036). Copper Levels in lung and age at time of death were positively correlated among the exposed workers (r(s) = 0.39; p = 0.029). In the same group, positive correlations between copper and zinc concentrations in kidney (r(s) = 0.45; p = 0.009) and nails (r(x) = 0.68; p &lt; 0.001) were also observed, reflecting possible biological interactions between these two metals. Among both workers and controls, the highest zinc concentrations were found in hair, followed in order by naits, liver, kidney, brain and lung. Significantly higher tissue concentrations among the workers as compared with the reference group were noted in kidney, liver and brain (p &lt; 0.033). Neither copper nor zinc concentrations in hair and nails seemed to provide a useful measure of the trace element status of the smelter workers.}},
  author       = {{Gerhardsson, Lars and Englyst, V and Lundstrom, NG and Sandberg, S and Nordberg, G}},
  issn         = {{1878-3252}},
  keywords     = {{biological monitoring; nails; hair; soft tissues; zinc; copper; smelter workers; cadmium}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{261--266}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology}},
  title        = {{Cadmium, copper and zinc in tissues of deceased copper smelter workers}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0946-672X(02)80055-4}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/S0946-672X(02)80055-4}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{2002}},
}