Arsenic burden survey among refuse incinerator workers.
BACKGROUND
Incinerator workers are not considered to have arsenic overexposure although they have the risk of overexposure to other heavy metals.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between arsenic burden and risk of occupational exposure in employees working at a municipal refuse incinerator by determining the concentrations of arsenic in the blood and urine.


METHODS
The workers were divided into three groups based on their probability of contact with combustion-generated residues, namely Group 1: indirect contact, Group 2: direct contact and Group 3: no contact. Healthy age- and sex-matched residents living in the vicinity were enrolled as the control group.


METHODS
Heavy metal concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Downstream rivers and drinking water of the residents were examined for environmental arsenic pollution. A questionnaire survey concerning the contact history of arsenic was simultaneously conducted.


METHODS
Non-parametric tests, cross-tabulation and multinomial logistic regression.


RESULTS
This study recruited 122 incinerator workers. The urine and blood arsenic concentrations as well as incidences of overexposure were significantly higher in the workers than in control subjects. The workers who had indirect or no contact with combustion-generated residues had significantly higher blood arsenic level. Arsenic contact history could not explain the difference. Airborne and waterborne arsenic pollution were not detected.


CONCLUSIONS
Incinerator workers run the risk of being exposed to arsenic pollution, especially those who have incomplete protection in the workplace even though they only have indirect or no contact with combustion-generated pollutants.
Chao
C L
CL
Department of Health, Taipei Hospital, Taiwan. chaocl@ptph.doh.gov.tw
Hwang
K C
KC
D000328:Adult; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013624:Taiwan
D002273:Carcinogens; D001151:Arsenic