Yamauchi H, Takahashi K, Mashiko M, Yamamura Y
Department of Public Health, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan.
Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1989 Nov;50(11):606-12. doi: 10.1080/15298668991375236.
In an attempt to establish a method for biological monitoring of inorganic arsenic exposure, the chemical species of arsenic were measured in the urine and hair of gallium arsenide (GaAs) plant and copper smelter workers. Determination of urinary inorganic arsenic concentration proved sensitive enough to monitor the low-level inorganic arsenic exposure of the GaAs plant workers. The urinary inorganic arsenic concentration in the copper smelter workers was far higher than that of a control group and was associated with high urinary concentrations of the inorganic arsenic metabolites, methylarsonic acid (MAA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA). The results established a method for exposure level-dependent biological monitoring of inorganic arsenic exposure. Low-level exposures could be monitored only by determining urinary inorganic arsenic concentration. High-level exposures clearly produced an increased urinary inorganic arsenic concentration, with an increased sum of urinary concentrations of inorganic arsenic and its metabolites (inorganic arsenic + MAA + DMAA). The determination of urinary arsenobetaine proved to determine specifically the seafood-derived arsenic, allowing this arsenic to be distinguished clearly from the arsenic from occupational exposure. Monitoring arsenic exposure by determining the arsenic in the hair appeared to be of value only when used for environmental monitoring of arsenic contamination rather than for biological monitoring.
为建立一种无机砷暴露生物监测方法，对砷化镓（GaAs）厂和铜冶炼厂工人的尿液和头发中的砷化学形态进行了测定。尿无机砷浓度测定被证明对监测GaAs厂工人的低水平无机砷暴露足够敏感。铜冶炼厂工人尿无机砷浓度远高于对照组，且与尿中无机砷代谢产物甲基胂酸（MAA）和二甲基胂酸（DMAA）的高浓度有关。这些结果建立了一种根据暴露水平进行无机砷暴露生物监测的方法。低水平暴露只能通过测定尿无机砷浓度来监测。高水平暴露明显导致尿无机砷浓度升高，同时尿中无机砷及其代谢产物浓度总和（无机砷+MAA+DMAA）增加。尿中砷甜菜碱的测定被证明能特异性地测定来自海产品的砷，从而能将这种砷与职业暴露来源的砷清楚地区分开来。通过测定头发中的砷来监测砷暴露，似乎只有在用于砷污染环境监测而非生物监测时才有价值。
