Aluminium sulphate

Epidemiological data

Administrative data

Endpoint:

epidemiological data

Type of information:

migrated information: read-across based on grouping of substances (category approach)

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Reliable with restrictions.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

1983

Materials and methods

Study type:

case control study (prospective)

Endpoint addressed:

respiratory irritation

skin sensitisation

respiratory sensitisation

Principles of method if other than guideline:

A health survey was carried out on all white males in an aluminum smelter in British Columbia. The survey consisted of a medical-occupational questionnaire, spirometry, chest radiography, and environmental monitoring. We have compared the results of a respiratory survey in 713 workers in the office and casting department with no significant exposure to air contaminants (control workers) with those of 797 potroom workers: 495 who spent more than 50% of their working time in the potroom (high exposure) and 302 workers who spent less than 50% of their working time in the potroom (medium exposure).

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Aluminium oxide

EC Number:

215-691-6

EC Name:

Aluminium oxide

Cas Number:

1344-28-1

IUPAC Name:

1344-28-1

Test material form:

aerosol dispenser: not specified

Remarks:

migrated information: aerosol

Details on test material:

- Name of test material :aluminium oxide
- Molecular formula :Al2O3
- Molecular weight :101.96 g mol−1
- Smiles notation :[Al+3].[Al+3].[O-2].[O-2].[O-2]
- InChl :1/2Al.3O/q2*+3;3*-2
- Structural formula attached as image file : see Fig.1
- Substance type:inorganic
- Physical state:white solid very hygroscopic
- Odor: odorless
- Density: 3.95-4.1 g/cm3
- Melting point: 2072 °C
- Boiling point: 2977 °C
- Solubility in water: insoluble
- Solubility :insoluble in diethyl ether, practically insoluble in ethanol

Method

Type of population:

occupational

Ethical approval:

confirmed, but no further information available

Details on study design:

A health survey was carried out on all white males in an aluminum smelter in British Columbia. The survey consisted of a medical-occupational questionnaire, spirometry, chest radiography, and environmental monitoring. They have compared the results of a respiratory survey in 713 workers in the office and casting department with no significant exposure to air contaminants (control workers) with those of 797 potroom workers: 495 who spent more than 50% of their working time in the potroom (high exposure) and 302 workers who spent less than 50% of their working time in the potroom (medium exposure). Potroom workers (high) had a significantly greater prevalence of cough and wheeze than did those in the control group, and they had significantly lower mean forced expiratory volume in one second and maximal midexpiratory flow rate than did those in the control group after adjustment had been made for differences in age, height, and smoking habits.

Exposure assessment:

estimated

Details on exposure:

The survey consisted of a medical-occupational questionnaire, spirometry, chest radiography, and environmental monitoring. They have compared the results of a respiratory survey in 713 workers in the office and casting department with no significant exposure to air contaminants (control workers) with those of 797 potroom workers: 495 who spent more than 50% of their working time in the potroom (high exposure) and 302 workers who spent less than 50% of their working time in the potroom (medium exposure). Potroom workers (high) had a significantly greater prevalence of cough and wheeze than did those in the control group, and they had significantly lower mean forced expiratory volume in one second and maximal midexpiratory flow rate than did those in the control group after adjustment had been made for differences in age, height, and smoking habits.

Results and discussion

Results:

There were two components to the study, a health study and an industrial hygiene survey.
For the health study, trained interviewers administered a questionnaire using a standardized technique; data on smoking habits and detailed occupational history were collected. A limited physical examination was conducted, including respiratory symptoms, and tests for common skin allergens. Chest roentgenograms were obtained (from 60% of workers), and pulmonary function tests were conducted. To determine if work place exposure to contaminants had acute effects on the airways, pre-shift and post-shift spirometry was conducted on a subset of the medium and high exposure groups. In addition, pre-shift, post-shift and end of the work week urine samples were collected to measure urinary fluoride levels.
The industrial hygiene survey involved personal sampling on representative workers of different job categories for levels of air contaminants, including total airborne particulates, gaseous and particulate fluoride, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and benzo-alpha-pyrene. Highly exposed potroom workers were significantly younger, were employed for significantly shorter periods of time, and were more likely to smoke than the control group. Potroom workers had a greater prevalence of cough, sputum, and wheeze compared with the control group; these results were statistically significant for the high exposure group but not for the medium exposure group. Less than 10% of the workers who had a chest radiograph exhibited abnormal findings; most of these changes were determined to have resulted from previous pulmonary tuberculosis. Chest radiographs revealed the presence of diffuse reticulonodular shadows in 28 workers with no association with any particular group. When pulmonary function was adjusted for age, height, duration of employment and smoking, potroom workers in the high exposure category were found to have significantly lower mean FEV1 and lower maximal mid-expiratory flow rate. The same result was observed in the medium exposure group, but was not statistically significant. Pulmonary function was lower when measured post-shift as compared to the pre-shift measurement in both potroom and control workers. Urinary fluoride levels increased in potroom workers after one shift, while the control group exhibited a slight decrease in urinary fluoride levels after one shift.
Results from personal samplers revealed that potroom workers were exposed to higher levels of air contaminants (total particulate, fluoride, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and benzo-alpha-pyrene) than the controls.
These results suggest that the increased frequency of adverse pulmonary effects seen in the potroom workers, compared with the controls, may be a result of the irritant properties of the air contaminants on the potline. Although no cases of asthma were detected in the potroom workers, five workers in the control group indicated that they left the potroom as a result of asthma. In interpreting the results of this study, it must be considered that only 60% of the sample received chest radiographs. In addition, the article states that many of the workers had previously been miners which could have had an impact on the workers= current pulmonary status.

Confounding factors:

occupational exposure to dust or substances such as asbestos have not been controlled.

Strengths and weaknesses:

lack of information required to rule out exposure to other toxic substances as the cause of the observed effect.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

These results suggest that the increased frequency of adverse pulmonary effects seen in the potroom workers, compared with the controls, may be a result of the irritant properties of the air contaminants on the potline. Although no cases of asthma were detected in the potroom workers, five workers in the control group indicated that they left the potroom as a result of asthma. In interpreting the results of this study, it must be considered that only 60% of the sample received chest radiographs. In addition, the article states that many of the workers had previously been miners which could have had an impact on the workers= current pulmonary status.

Executive summary:

A health survey was carried out on all white males in an aluminum smelter in British Columbia. The survey consisted of a medical-occupational questionnaire, spirometry, chest radiography, and environmental monitoring.Theyhave compared the results of a respiratory survey in 713 workers in the office and casting department with no significant exposure to air contaminants (control workers) with those of 797 potroom workers: 495 who spent more than 50% of their working time in the potroom (high exposure) and 302 workers who spent less than 50% of their working time in the potroom (medium exposure). Potroom workers (high) had a significantly greater prevalence of cough and wheeze than did those in the control group, and they had significantly lower mean forced expiratory volume in one second and maximal midexpiratory flow rate than did those in the control group after adjustment had been made for differences in age, height, and smoking habits. Potroom workers (medium) had a slightly greater prevalence of respiratory symptoms and lower lung function than did workers in the control group, but the differences were not significant. We were unable to demonstrate potroom asthma. The levels of total fluoride, gaseous fluoride, particulate fluoride, sulphur dioxide, and total particulates found in the potroom at the time of the study were below the currently accepted threshold limit values, but the levels of benzo-alpha-pyrene were high.