Heavy metal blood concentrations in smelters and chimney sweepers in Norway

Abstract

Background: Smelter workers and chimney sweepers may be exposed to heavy metals via particulate matter through airways and skin uptake. We hypothesized that these workers have higher blood concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury compared to an office-worker group. Furthermore, we hypothesized that their concentrations increased cross-week despite the use of properly fitted respiratory protective equipment (RPE). Our aim was to uncover workers' general heavy metal concentrations and cross-week changes to provide further insight into industrial occupational exposure.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 2 repeated measures. We quantified whole blood arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury 4 d apart. Participants answered a standardized questionnaire and log scheme on work exposure. Samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and we used Wilcoxon's signed-rank test and multiple linear regression to assess heavy metal differences across the 4-d workweek and occupational groups.

Results: Out of 226 participants (99 smelter workers, 80 chimney sweepers, and 47 office workers), 185 participants provided blood samples. The final dataset included 151 participants. Overall, heavy metal concentrations were below Mayo Clinic's cutoff concentrations. Multiple linear regression analysis with confounders did not show higher concentrations of heavy metals in the exposed occupations compared to office workers. Instead, we found statistically significant lower chromium in smelter workers. Sensitivity power analysis showed that our nonsignificant findings in the other metals were underpowered. Wilcoxon's signed rank test did not show cross-week increase.

Conclusions: In our population of chimney sweepers and smelter workers with high percentage use of RPE, occupational exposure to heavy metals does not seem to increase workers blood heavy metals; lifestyle factors seem more important. Further studies with higher number of participants are warranted to ensure our findings.

Keywords: biological monitoring; heavy metals; occupational exposure; particulate matter.