title: Occupational tellurium exposure and garlic odour.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have considered garlic odour as a socially important outcome of occupational tellurium (Te) exposure or concurrent exposures, and most known guidelines focus on other signs and symptoms (e.g. weight loss and somnolence). This study considers workers exposed to tellurium and selenium (Se) at an Ontario, Canada silver refinery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish the relation of urinary tellurium concentrations to reporting garlic odour, while considering other work-related factors such as concurrent urinary selenium concentrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Historical surveillance records of urinary analyses for tellurium and selenium concentrations (μmol Te or Se/mol creatinine in urine) and symptom self-reports were used. Records were available from December 1986 to June 2002. Logistic regression models were fitted using age at sampling, tellurium and selenium urine concentration and duration of employment. Individual main effects were age adjusted and the final model was fitted for tellurium and selenium urine concentration and duration of employment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Urinary tellurium concentration was significantly associated with garlic odour reporting (odds ratio = 1.74, 95% confidence interval 1.01-2.97, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the likelihood of reporting garlic odour rose as workers reached urinary tellurium concentrations >1 μmol/mol creatinine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tellurium urinary concentrations of <1 μmol/mol creatinine appear to limit, but not eliminate, the likelihood of reporting garlic odour. Future studies should consider the effect of concurrent selenium exposure as well as other workplace factors and hygiene.
authors.affiliation: School of Rural and Northern Health, Laurentian University, School of Education Building, Room 205 E 935, Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Berriault
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Lightfoot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005737:Garlic; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009812:Odorants; D009864:Ontario; D012643:Selenium / Q000652:urine*; D057566:Self Report; D012834:Silver; D013691:Tellurium / Q000652:urine*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012834:Silver; D012643:Selenium; D013691:Tellurium