Exposure of workers in a mineral processing industry in Brazil.
In Brazil there are many regions where the extraction mining and processing of ores containing elements of great economical importance as tin, niobium and tantalum. Some of these ores have uranium and thorium natural decay series associated. This study was carried out in a niobium mine, where is obtained concentrates of niobates-tantalates, cassiterite and zirconite. The aim of this study is the evaluation of the occupational exposure to uranium, thorium, niobium and tin through urine bioassay data. In order to have it, 105 urine samples were analysed: 17 samples of exposed workers collected after a working day, 49 samples of exposed workers collected before a working day and 39 samples of local non-exposed people, assigned as a control group. The samples were analysed by mass spectrometry. The obtained results showed that the average concentration of Nb, Sn and U in the exposed group is statistically higher than those found in the control group indicating an occupational exposure. For Th there were no statistically difference between the exposed and the control group.
Julião
Lígia M Q C
LM
Instituto de Radioproteção e Dosimetria, Av. Salvador Allende s/n-Rio de Janeiro-RJ-22780-160, Brazil. ligia@ird.gov.br
Melo
Dunstana R
DR
Sousa
Wanderson O
WO
Santos
Maristela S
MS
Fernandes
Paulo César
PC
Godoy
Maria Luiza D P
ML
D000465:Algorithms; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D001938:Brazil; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D008903:Minerals / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008906:Mining; D008954:Models, Biological; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D008903:Minerals; D011868:Radioisotopes