Biomedical subjects

C G Elinder

Publications and source records attributed to C G Elinder.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1993

Fatal cadmium-induced pneumonitis.

A previously relatively healthy 78-year-old man was exposed to cadmium fumes during brazing with cadmium-containing silver solder. He developed severe chemical pneumonitis and died 25 d after exposure.

Aged↗

PubMed1993

Minor effects of low exposure to inorganic mercury on the human immune system.

The influence of exposure to inorganic mercury on the immune system was examined in 36 workers occupationally exposed to mercury vapor, 14 individuals with skin hypersensitivity to mercury compounds, 21 subjects with health disturbances allegedly caused by dental amalgam fillings ("amalgam disease"), and 39 healthy referents. Concentrations of mercury in blood and urine and some parameters judged to mirror different effects on the immune system were determined. The latter included, white blood cell differential counts, serum immunoglobulins and autoantibodies, and in vitro production of the cytokines interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha). Virtually all of the immunologic parameters were within normal ranges and did not differ significantly between the groups. In the group sensitized to mercury, there was a reduction of the in vitro production of both TNF alpha and IL-1 compared with the reference group's values. No significant correlations were noted between different mercury exposure estimates and the immunologic parameters.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Pesticide poisonings in Costa Rica.

A descriptive epidemiologic study, conducted in Costa Rica, investigated the incidence of pesticide poisonings with special attention to agricultural workers and occupational exposure. Information from three national registers (occupational accident and disease reports, hospitalizations, and deaths) were used. During 1986, 1800 occupational accidents caused by pesticides were reported; between 1980 and 1986 altogether 3330 persons were hospitalized and 429 died. Cholinesterase inhibitors caused 71% of the reported occupational accidents, 63% of the hospitalizations, and 36% of the deaths. Paraquat caused 21% of the occupational accidents, 24% of the hospitalizations, and 60% of the deaths. Hospitalizations and deaths were 13 and 11 times, respectively, more frequent among agricultural workers than among the rest of the population. High-risk groups for occupational poisonings included agricultural workers aged 15-29 years, female workers, and banana plantation workers. The yearly incidence of symptomatic occupational pesticide poisonings among agricultural workers was estimated at 4.5%.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Activity of antioxidative enzymes in erythrocytes and concentration of selenium in plasma related to mercury exposure.

The activity of catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in erythrocytes and concentration of selenium in plasma and mercury in whole blood, plasma, and urine were analyzed in 36 individuals occupationally exposed to mercury vapor, in 14 individuals with skin hypersensitivity to inorganic mercury, and in 17 individuals with subjective symptoms alleged to result from dental amalgam fillings. The control group consisted of 39 individuals with amalgam fillings, but no occupational exposure to mercury. Selenium in plasma was determined by GFAAS with Zeeman background correction. After exclusion of individuals with reported intake of selenium supplement the median plasma selenium concentration in the group with occupational exposure to mercury was 1.24 mumol/L, in the allergy group 1.22 mumol/L, in the amalgam group 1.25 mumol/L, and in the control group 1.22 mumol/L. The activities of catalase and GSH-Px were similar in all groups. However, in females lower GSH-Px activity was found in the amalgam group compared with females in the control group. GSH-Px activity in smokers was slightly lower than in non-smokers. No correlations were found between concentration of selenium or mercury in plasma and activity of glutathione peroxidase or catalase in erythrocytes.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Biological monitoring of toxic metals.

The biological monitoring of metals, when used properly, allows total exposure to a particular metal to be measured from various media. It takes into consideration inter- and intraindividual variations in uptake due to differences in metabolism and physical work load and can be used to identify individuals, or groups of individuals, with high exposure or at high risk. As many metals are retained for long periods, biological monitoring may not only provide information on recent exposure, but also on exposure which occurred a long time ago. Under optimal conditions, the concentration of a metal in biological media can be used to assess exposure, the concentration of the metal in the target or critical organ (ie, the organ where the adverse effects are first observed) and the risks for adverse effects. This paper gives an overview of several important aspects of biological monitoring but does not provide detailed information on particular metals.

Environmental Exposure↗

PubMed1992

Effectiveness of low-dose cotrimoxazole prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia after renal and/or pancreas transplantation.

We retrospectively examined the effectiveness of prophylaxis with cotrimoxazole in preventing Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in recipients of kidney and combined kidney-pancreas transplants between 1985 and 1989. Cotrimoxazole prophylaxis (480 mg daily or 300 mg/m2), when used, was started within 2 months after transplantation and usually continued until 6 months after surgery. Eight (3.7%) of the 214 patients who were not given prophylaxis were infected with Pneumocystis carinii, and there were 4 fatalities (50% mortality). There were no cases among the 161 patients given prophylaxis (P less than or equal to 0.03). No serious adverse effects were noted in the prophylaxis group. It is concluded that prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii infection is well tolerated and should be given as soon as possible to all organ transplant recipients for at least 6 months.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Renal and immunological effects of occupational exposure to inorganic mercury.

Seven parameters of renal dysfunction (urinary excretion of albumin, orosomucoid, beta 2-microglobulin, N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG), and copper; serum creatinine concentration, and relative clearance of beta 2-microglobulin) were examined in a group of chloralkali workers exposed to mercury vapour (n = 89) and in an unexposed control group (n = 75). Serum concentrations of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM) and auto-antibodies towards glomeruli and other tissues were also determined. The parameters examined were compared between the two groups and related to different exposure parameters. In the chloralkali group median blood mercury concentration (B-Hg) was 55 nmol/l, serum mercury (S-Hg) 45 nmol/l, and urine mercury concentration (U-Hg) 14.3 nmol/mmol creatinine (25.4 micrograms/g creatinine). Corresponding concentrations for the control group were 15 nmol/l, 4 nmol/l, and 1.1 nmol/mmol creatinine (1.9 micrograms/g creatinine) respectively. None of the parameters of renal dysfunction differed significantly between the two groups, but there was a tendency to increased excretion of NAG in the exposed group compared with the controls. Also, a statistically significant relation existed between U-Hg and U-NAG (p less than 0.001). Serum immunoglobulin concentrations did not differ between the groups, and serum titres of autoantibodies (including antiglomerular basement membrane and antilaminin antibodies) were low in both groups. Thus the results gave no evidence of glomerular damage or of a tubular reabsorption defect at the current relatively low exposures. The findings still indicate slight, dose related tubular cell damage in the mercury exposed group. There were no signs of a mercury induced effect on the immune system.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

PubMed1992

Cadmium as an environmental hazard.

Cadmium occurs in nature at low concentrations, but human activities have caused cadmium contamination in all continents with the exception of Antarctica. In some areas, environmentally exposed humans have suffered kidney damage which has sometimes progressed to severe kidney failure and skeletal disease. In mammals and birds, cadmium accumulates in livers and kidneys at concentrations of 0.1-2 mg/kg and 1-10 mg/kg wet weight, respectively. Animals with a long life span such as horses have very high concentrations of cadmium in their organs: in renal cortex samples obtained from old horses, concentrations of nearly 200 mg/kg have been found. Histopathological examination of kidneys from environmentally exposed horses and certain species of sea birds have revealed morphological changes indicative of chronic interstitial nephritis. Remarkably high concentrations of cadmium (5-160 mg/kg) have recently been found in kidneys obtained from penguins living in Antarctica. The cadmium accumulation observed in animals living in Antarctica is unlikely to be the result of anthropogenic pollution. It shows how little we know and understand about the natural flow and behaviour of this elusive element in the ecosystems of the planet.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Scientific basis for an occupational standard for cadmium.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed a revised 8-hour permissible exposure limit (PEL) for cadmium in air of either 1 or 5 micrograms/m3, based upon the prevention of lung cancer and kidney dysfunction. To evaluate the scientific basis for these alternative standards, we compare the OSHA estimates of risk, derived from mathematical modelling of selected studies, to empirical data on lung cancer and kidney dysfunction in the published literature. At least seven epidemiologic studies examine renal tubular proteinuria by cumulative cadmium exposure. Three suggest increased proteinuria at cumulative exposures below 500 micrograms/m3-year (equivalent to a PEL of 11.1 micrograms/m3 over 45 working years). One shows prevalence increasing at cumulative exposures between 100 and 299 micrograms/m3 (equivalent to a PEL between 2.2 and 6.6 micrograms/m3). Insufficient data exist to estimate a no-effect level for kidney toxicity. For lung cancer, qualitative evidence of carcinogenicity in humans is seen in four of five occupational cohorts. Quantitative estimates of risk based on epidemiologic data provide lower and more plausible estimates of lifetime risk than do estimates from a rodent bioassay. The data overall suggest that the PEL for cadmium should not exceed 5 micrograms/m3 to protect workers from kidney dysfunction and lung cancer over a working lifetime.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

PubMed1991

Biological monitoring of environmental and occupational exposure to mercury.

Biological monitoring was used to assess mercury exposure from occupational and environmental sources in a group of chloralkali workers (n = 89) and in a control group (n = 75). In the control group, the median value for blood mercury (B-Hg) was 15 nmol/l, that for serum mercury (S-Hg) was 4 nmol/l and that for urinary mercury (U-Hg) was 1.1 nmol/mmol creatinine. Corresponding levels in the chloralkali group were 55 nmol/l, 45 nmol/l and 14.3 nmol/mmol creatinine, respectively. In the control group, there were statistically significant relationships between fish consumption and both B-Hg and S-Hg values (P less than 0.001), whereas U-Hg correlated best with the individual amalgam burden (P less than 0.01). In the chloralkali group, the mercury levels in blood and urine were significantly related to the type of work (P less than 0.001) but not to the length of employment, to fish consumption or to the quantity of dental amalgam fillings. In both groups there were poor correlations between smoking or alcohol intake and the mercury levels in blood and urine. The results strongly suggest that fish is an important source of methylmercury exposure and that amalgam fillings are probably the most important source of inorganic mercury exposure among occupationally unexposed individuals. In the chloralkali group, mercury exposure from fish and amalgam was overshadowed by occupational exposure to inorganic mercury.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

The applicability of the measurement of urinary thioethers. A study of humans exposed to styrene during diet standardization.

The excretion of thioethers was measured in the urine of 6 volunteers, who were experimentally exposed to styrene, and 18 styrene workers. In addition, 12 clerks (non-smokers) and 12 sheet-metal workers (smokers) served as control groups. Diet was standardized during the experiments. Thioethers were measured by a spectrophotometric method. The volunteers were exposed to styrene, 210 mg/m3, for 2h at a 50-W workload. An increase in thioether excretion was observed; the largest was in the urine samples collected between 0.5 and 5 h after the end of the exposure. After 43 h the excretion of thioethers was close to the pre-exposure level (3.5 mmol/mol creatinine). About 1% of the styrene absorbed was detected as thioethers in urine, which is only about 1/10 of the conversion reported for rats. From excretion rate curves a half-life of about 11 h was calculated for styrene thioethers. The styrene workers were employed at two plants. The average exposure to styrene (time-weighted average 8 h) was estimated to be about 115 mg/m3 (smokers in plant A), 55 mg/m3 (non-smokers in plant A) and less than or equal to 10 mg/m3 (non-smokers in plant B). The excretion of thioethers in exposed workers at plant A was higher by 2-4 mmol/mol creatinine than that in non-exposed controls. In plant B, where exposure was lower, an increase in that amount of thioethers excreted in the urine by exposed workers was less pronounced, and was statistically significant only when post-shift samples were compared with pre-shift samples.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Evidence of aluminium accumulation in aluminium welders.

Using atomic absorption spectrometry the aluminium concentrations in blood and urine and in two iliac bone biopsies obtained from welders with long term exposure to fumes containing aluminium were measured. The urinary excretion of two workers who had welded for 20 and 21 years varied between 107 and 351 micrograms Al/l, more than 10 times the concentration found in persons without occupational exposure. Urinary aluminium excretion remained high many years after stopping exposure. Blood and bone aluminium concentrations (4-53 micrograms Al/l and 18-29 micrograms Al/g respectively) were also raised but not to the same extent as urine excretion. It is concluded that long term exposure to aluminium by inhalation gives rise to accumulation of aluminium in the body and skeleton of health persons, and that the elimination of retained aluminium is very slow, in the order of several years.

Aluminum↗

PubMed1991

Assessment of genotoxic exposure in Swedish coke-oven work by different methods of biological monitoring.

This study evaluated the results of several biological methods used simultaneously to monitor coke-oven work. Blood samples from 44 male coke-oven workers and 48 male referents, matched for age and smoking/snuff consumption, were examined for cytogenetic damage in lymphocytes. Urinary thioether excretion was determined for 62, and urine mutagenicity for 31, of the subjects, who followed a standardized diet during the urine sampling. Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons varied with work task, the ambient air levels of benzo[a]pyrene sometimes exceeding 5 micrograms/m3. Cytogenetic damage, urine mutagenicity, and thioether excretion did not differ between the groups. The smokers, however, had significantly higher sister chromatid exchange frequencies, urine mutagenicity, and thioether excretion than the nonsmokers. The absence of biological indications of genotoxic exposure was unexpected and indicates that the studied methods are not adequate to assess the carcinogenic risks of Swedish coke-oven workers.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Is cadmium released from metallothionein in rejected human kidneys?

Concentrations of metallothionein and metals, i.e. cadmium, copper and zinc, were determined in six rejected transplanted human kidneys and one kidney prepared for transplantation. Tissue samples separated by gel chromatography showed that almost all of cadmium in tissue was in the form of firmly bound cadmium-metallothionein.

Adult↗

PubMed1990