Degree of exposure to arsenic compounds of workers in zinc smelteries
Braszczyńska, Z.; Linscheid, D.; Osińska, R.; Kłopotowski, J.
Medycyna Pracy 34(5-6): 413-417
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0465-5893 PMID: 6672529 Document Number: 197502
Due to a number of cases of acute arsine poisonings in one of zinc metallurgic plants, the environmental concentrations of arsenic compounds were determined. In the technological process of zinc metallurgy, the highest arsine concentrations can occur: a) during zinc refining in the furnace, where, because of the full automatization process, the presence of workers is not necessary, b) during the refining furnace repair--because of the melting loss wetting. Levels of arsenic concentrations, just as cadmium and zinc concentrations, according to the valid hygienic standards, are very low at the shaft furnace and the agglomerating plant. The urinary arsenic concentrations in workers has not exceeded 100 micrograms/l and these results also testify to a small exposure. However, it is necessary to take into account the high lead concentrations at some work-posts, both due to the multiple exceeding of the hygienic standard, and the simultaneous occurrence of lead and arsenic, which create a potential possibility of forming more toxic compounds, e.g. lead arsenide. In view of the carcinogenic exposure, it is important to take into account the possibility of interaction between arsenic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbones which occur during coke dry degassing.