Biological Monitoring Results for Cadmium Exposed Workers

• Published in: American Industrial Hygiene Association journal 1996-11, Vol.57 (11), p.1019-1023
• Main Authors: McDiarmid, Melissa A., Freeman, Caroline S., Grossman, Elizabeth A., Martonik, John
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air Pollutants, Occupational - analysis; Batteries; beta 2-Microglobulin - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Biomonitoring; Breath tests; Cadmium; Cadmium - analysis; cadmium exposure; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Electric Power Supplies; Electrolytes; Employees; Engineering; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Hazardous materials; Health hazards; Humans; Industrial plants; Industry; intervention; Manufacturing; Maximum Allowable Concentration; medical removal; Medical sciences; Metals and various inorganic compounds; Nickel; Occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - prevention & control; Occupational health; Occupational safety; Provisions; Studies; Subpopulations; Surveillance; Toxicology; United States; United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration; Urine; Workers
• ISSN: 0002-8894; 2163-369X
• DOI: 10.1080/15428119691014350

As part of a settlement agreement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) involving exposure to cadmium (Cd), a battery production facility provided medical surveillance data to OSHA for review. Measurements of cadmium in blood, cadmium in urine, and beta2-microglobulin in urine were obtained for more than 100 workers over an 18-month period. Some airborne Cd exposure data were also made available. Two subpopulations of this cohort were of primary interest in evaluating compliance with the medical surveillance provisions of the Cadmium Standard. These were a group of 16 workers medically removed from cadmium exposure due to elevations in some biological parameter, and a group of platemakers. Platemaking had presented a particularly high exposure opportunity and had recently undergone engineering interventions to minimize exposure. The effect on three biological monitoring parameters of medical removal protection in the first group and engineering controls in platemakers is reported. Results reveal that both medical removal from cadmium exposures and exposure abatement through the use of engineering and work practice controls generally result in declines in biological monitoring parameters of exposed workers. Implications for the success of interventions are discussed.