Exponering för aluminium i smältverk Effekter på nervsystemet

The purpose of this investigation was to study nervous system function in workers exposed to aluminium at a foundry and a primary smelter. The aim was to find a level of aluminium in urine and/or blood where no early signs of effects on the nervous system could be observed. A total of 119 men with a minimum of five years of occupational aluminium exposure were studied at two companies. Exposure to aluminium was determined using questionnaires as well as blood and urine samples. The functional status of the central nervous system was assessed using psychological performance tests, neurophysiological tests, and symptom questionnaires. Six performance tests from the SPES battery, measuring attention, motor functions, memory, and intellectual functions, were used. As a complement, three other tests of motor functions were included; a peg-board test, parts of the Luria-Nebraska Motor Scale, and a computerized test of handtremor. The neurophysiological tests were EEG, P300, diadochokinesometri. No effects from the aluminium exposure could be observed on any of the measures. The level of aluminium in blood and urine was, however, very low. Only 10 of the 119 workers had levels in urine exceeding 10 µg/l. Our findings are in accordance with those from previous studies on the neurotoxic effects from low level occupational exposure to aluminium.Syftet med undersökningen var att studera centrala nervsystemets funktion hos industriarbetare sysselsatta med framställning av och gjutning med aluminium. Målsättningen var att försöka finna en nivå avseende aluminiumhalt i blod och/eller i urin där inga tidiga tecken på negativ inverkan på nervsystemet kunde iakttas. Vid två företag undersöktes sammanlagt 119 män med minst fem års anställningstid. Exponering för aluminium kartlades dels via enkäter, dels via blod- och urinprov. Nervsystemets funktion studerades med hjälp av symptomformulär, psykologiska prestationstest och neurofysiologiska undersökningar. Sex olika prestationstest ur SPES-batteriet användes. Testen omfattar prov på uppmärksamhet, motoriska funktioner, minne och intellektuella funktioner. Ytterligare tre test vilka mäter motoriska funktioner användes; Cylinderbrädan, delar ur Luria-Nebraska Motor Scale samt Handtremor. De neurofysiologiska undersökningarna var EEG, P300 och diadokokinesometri. Ingen effekt av aluminium kunde iakttas vare sig på prestation, neurofysiologiska funktion eller rapporterade symptom. Halten av aluminium i blod och urin var emellertid låg. Endast för 10 arbetare låg halterna i urin över 10 µg/l. Resultaten överensstämmer med dem från tidigare studier av grupper med låg aluminiumexponering

Westerhus – Børnenes tænder

Westerhus. The dentitions of the children By Verner Alexandersen and Elisabeth Iregren In Westerhus on the island of Frösö in Jämtland the childhood was a stressful period with high mortality. In this study the living conditions of the children are discussed on the basis of the age distribution of infants, the prevalence of enamel hypoplasia and the tooth size of deciduous and permanent teeth. Gejvall’s age distribution of infants dying in the neonatal and the postneonatal periods was confirmed using both the atlas and the metric method of age assessment although the peak mortality in the age interval from 3-6 months was not as pronounced as suggested by Gejvall. The mortality in the postneonatal period is ascribed to infectious diseases and early supplement to breast-feeding with complementary foods. Various types of enamel hypoplasia were observed in deciduous teeth. Chronologically the hypoplasias occurred in the intrauterine, the neonatal and the postneonatal periods. Linear enamel hypoplasia in the permanent teeth was also noticed and related to malnutrition and systemic diseases after weaning. The prevalence was higher in the juvenile-adult age group than in the samples of children or mature individuals. Tooth size in the permanent dentition was reduced in comparison with samples of teeth from modern Nordic populations suggesting deficits in physical growth in early childhood. The sex dimorphism of the teeth was utilised to show that children buried North and South of the chapel tended to be distributed like the adult persons with the boys buried South of the chapel and the girls to the North of it. East of the chapel the children in mass graves belonged to both sexes

Hair Manganese and Hyperactive Behaviors: Pilot Study of School-Age Children Exposed through Tap Water

BACKGROUND: Neurotoxic effects are known to occur with inhalation of manganese particulates, but very few data are available on exposure to Mn in water. We undertook a pilot study in a community in Québec (Canada) where naturally occurring high Mn levels were present in the public water system. Our objective was to test the hypothesis that greater exposure to Mn via drinking water would be reflected in higher Mn content in hair which, in turn, would be associated with increased level of hyperactive behaviors. METHODS: Forty-six children participated in the study, 24 boys and 22 girls, 6–15 years of age (median, 11 years). Their homes received water from one of two wells (W) with different Mn concentrations: W1: mean 610 μg/L; W2: mean 160 μg/L. The Revised Conners’ Rating Scale for parents (CPRS-R) and for teachers (CTRS-R) were administered, providing T-scores on the following subscales: Oppositional, Hyperactivity, Cognitive Problems/Inattention, and ADHD Index. RESULTS: Children whose houses were supplied by W1 had higher hair Mn (MnH) than those supplied by W2 (mean 6.2 ± 4.7 μg/g vs. 3.3 ± 3.0 μg/g, p = 0.025). MnH was significantly associated with T-scores on the CTRS-R Oppositional (p = 0.020) and Hyperactivity (p = 0.002) subscales, after adjustment for age, sex, and income. All children with Oppositional and Hyperactivity T-scores ≥ 65 had MnH > 3.0 μg/g. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this pilot study are sufficiently compelling to warrant more extensive investigations into the risks of Mn exposure in drinking water

Dieten hos barn och vuxna i Westerhus: Data från spårämnen, kolisotoper och odontologi

The diet for adults and children at Westerhus. Data from trace element and carbon isotope analyses and odontology By Elisabeth Iregren, Högne Jungner, Jyrki Räisänen and Verner Alexandersen The individuals from Westerhus were randomly selected to cover all age groups and both sexes. Bone samples were taken from 94 skeletons (25%) of the population. Different skeletal elements have been used in the PIXE (Proton Induced X-ray Emission) analyses. The following elements were studied: Ca (calcium), the earth metals Mn (manganese) and Fe (iron); the trace elements Zn (zinc), Sr (strontium) and Cr (chromium); the heavy metal Pb (lead) and further Cu (copper), Br (bromine), Ni (nickel), Mo (molybdenum), Zr (zirconium). Soil samples were examined as well as several bone samples of a few individuals. In Westerhus no severe influence of heavy metals has been traced. Lead is found in small amounts in the skeletons. Compared to other medieval people the values of zink indicate a low intake of animal protein in the Westerhus population. Copper is also found in very low amounts. This proves that they did not consume any marine food at all. When using the definitions by Johansen et al. (1986) for evaluating the values of the carbon isotopes, we may conclude that the individuals were presumably consumers of mainly terrestrial food. Thus, the data on carbon isotopes, zinc, and copper verify one another. Results on the Sr/Ca in the diet and the bearing on weaning are presented. It is highly likely that most children in Westerhus were given human milk until the age of 2 years. Single individuals show, however, signs of enamel hypoplasia, which indicates that a few children were given supplementary food earlier. Above the age of two the variation between individuals increases, hinting to different feeding practices in different families. We believe that some children were not weaned until the age of 3-4 years, but above the age of 5 the children show Sr/Ca-values similar to the adults. Swärdstedt (1966) studied adults and found that the number of enamel hypoplasia increased markedly in Westerhus during the years 2.5-4. Evidently, this period in life was critical even to those who survived infancy