Arsine occupational exposure

The occupational exposure of five workers to arsine was reported by Phoon et al. (1984). All cases involved hematuria and, except for one patient, abdominal pain and jaundice. One worker was exposed for approximately 1 3/4 h, while the others were exposed for approximately 2 1/4 h. The latency in appearance of toxic effects was unusually short U-3 h). The following day, the arsine level in the workers breathing zone was 0.055 mg/m3 (0.017 ppm), although no processing of arsenic-containing material was taking place at the time of measurement. It was hypothesized by the report authors that the arsine... 

Landrigan et al. (1982) conducted an epidemiologic survey to evaluate occupational exposure to arsine in a lead-acid battery manufacturing plant. Arsine concentrations ranged from nondetectable to 49 /breathing zone samples. A high correlation was found between urinary arsenic concentration and arsine exposure (r=0.84 p=0.0001 for an n of 47). Additionally, arsine levels above 15.6 /ig/m3 (=0.005 ppm) were associated with urinary arsenic concentrations in excess of 50 //g/L. The investigators concluded that exposure to a 200 /ig/m3 arsine exposure standard would not prevent chronic increased absorption of trivalent arsenic. 

Landrigan, P.J., R.J.Castello, and W.T.Stringer. 1982. Occupational exposure to arsine. An epidemiologic reappraisal of current standards. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health. 8 169-177. Legge, T.M. 1916. Arsenic poisoning. In Diseases of Occupations and Vocational Hygiene, G.M.Kober and W.Hanson, eds. Philadelphia, PA Blakiston. 

Landrigan PJ et al Occupational exposure to arsine. An epidemiologic reappraisal of current standards. Scand J Work Environ Health 8 169-177, 1982... 

Beckett WS, Moore JL, Keogh JP, et al Acute encephalopathy due to occupational exposure to arsenic. British Journal of Industrial Medicine 43 66-67, 1986 Calderon J, Navarro ME, Jimenz-Capdeville ME, et al Exposure to arsenic and neuropsychological development in Mexican children. Environ Res 85 69-76, 2001 DePalma AE Arsine intoxication in a chemical plant. J Occup Med 11 582-587,1969 Eagle H, Magnuson HJ The systemic treatment of 227 cases of arsenic poisoning (encephalitis, dermatitis, blood dyscrasias, jaundice, fever) with 2,3-dimercapto-propanol (BAL). American Journal of Syphilis, Gonorrhea, and Venereal Diseases 30 420-441, 1946... 

For many years, arsenic has been regarded as an important environmental pollutant. It can enter the environment in many ways, for example use as an agrochemical, in smelting operations, and from coal fired power plants. Buchet and Lauwerys [70] list the relative toxicities for several arsenic compounds of high concern. In descending order they give arsine > arsenite > arsenate > methanearsonic acid (MMA) > dimethylarsinic acid (cacodylic acid, DMA). Methods which can accurately assess environmental and occupational exposure to these toxic arsenic compounds are necessary. 

Exposure to arsine usually occurs in occupational settings that often involve concurrent exposures to other metal vapors and solvents. It is assumed that concurrent exposure with other chemicals, the toxicity of which targets the erythrocyte or renal function, would increase the severity of the response to arsine. 

More information about arsine can be obtained from your regional poison control center, your state, county, or local health department the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) your doctor or a clinic in your area that specializes in occupational and environmental health. If the exposure happened at work, you may wish to contact the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). 

Arsine is rapidly absorbed into blood through the respiratory tract (Venugopal and Luckey, 1978). Arsenic can be detected in blood after a few days of exposure. The highest quantities of arsenic were found in Uver, kidney, and spleen, and smaller amounts of arsenic were also found in the hair of workers occupationally exposed to arsine (Romeo et al, 1997). Apostoli et al (1997) detected the presence of arsenic in tissues, blood, and urine of workers in the petroleum industry who were poisoned with arsine. In a fatal case of arsine poisoning, arsenic was found in the liver at a concentration of 11.8 mg/g, spleen at 7.9 mg/g, kidneys at 3.2 mg/g, brain at 0.6 mg/g, and in the urine at 0.6 mg/ml. Trace amounts were also found in the blood (Apostoli et al, 1997). 

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists has adopted a time-weighted average threshold limit value (TLV-TWA) for arsine of 0.05 ppm. [1] The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has established an eight-hour time-weighted average exposure limit of 0.05 ppm (0.2 mg/m ) for arsine. [2]... 

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