Cadmium hazard in silver brazing
Gan, S.L.; Tan, S.H.; Pinnagoda, J.; Tan, K.T.
Annals of the Academy of Medicine Singapore 24(2): 325-327
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0304-4602 PMID: 7653980 Document Number: 439274
This study evaluates the usage of cadmium-containing silver brazing alloys in Singapore and the potential cadmium hazard from its use. Of the 137 factories which responded to the survey questionnaire, only 28 (20.4%) carried out brazing. Of these, only 7 factories used cadmium-containing filler alloys. One hundred and six out of 123 workers from one of these factories had cadmium-in-blood concentrations exceeding 10 mcg/l. Thirty-one (29.2%) of the workers with excessive cadmium absorption had urinary beta-2 microglobulin levels exceeding 28 mcg/g creat. Workers in the other factories who were intermittently exposed had cadmium-in-blood concentrations of 10 mcg/l and below.