Archive

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Med. Pr. 2005;56(1)

Neurological and neurophysiological examinations of workers occupationally exposed to aluminium

Neurologiczna i neurofizjologiczna ocena pracowników zawodowo narażonych na glin

Halina Sińczuk-Walczak1, Wanda Matczak2, Grażyna Raśniewska2, Maria Szymczak2 1 Z Przychodni Chorób Zawodowych 2 Z Zakładu Zagrożeń Chemicznych Instytutu Medycyny Pracy im.prof. J. Nofera w Łodzi 3 Z Katedry Metod i Technik Badań Społecznych Instytutu Socjologii Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego

Abstract

Background: Studies conducted to assess aluminum (Al)-induced toxicity to humans and environment. It has been implicated that Al is involved in the etiology of Alzheimer`s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, though this is controversial. The aim of the present study was to assess Al effects on the nervous system functions in workers chronically exposed to this metal. Methods and Materials: The study covered a selected group of 67 male workers (mean age, 38.7 ą 10.3 years; range23ś55 years) involved in aluminum production. Their employment duration ranged between 2 and 34 years (mean, 14.6 ą 8.9 years). Aluminum oxide (Al.₂O₃) concentrations varied from 0.2 to 1.95 mg/m³ (arithmetic mean, 0.40 mg/m³, geometric mean, 0.35 mg/m³, SD = 0.29). Urine aluminum concentrations found in smelters ranged from 8.5 to 93.0 ľg/l (mean, 42.9

Key words

aluminium, occupational exposure, nervous system functions, electroencephalography, visual ewoked potentials