UPTAKE AND EXCRETION OF MSMA IN WORKERS APPLYING THE HERBICIDE TO HIGHWAY RIGHTS OF WAY. FINAL REPORT

This study followed uptake and excretion of total arsenic from MSMA in workers applying the herbicide during the spraying season. Urine, blood and hair samples were collected from workers as well as air samples taken from the workers breathing zone. Arsenic concentrations in air samples ranged from 0.001 - 1.086 mug/m cubic meters with no significant difference in air arsenic concentrations over time. Blood arsenic values ranged from 0.0 - 0.2 mg/1, well within the limits considered normal. Arsenic urine values ranged from 0.002 - 1.725 mg/1. This is above the normal value range but is consistent with arsenic levels in urine following a seafood meal. Geometric mean arsenic concentration in urine increased during the week but returned to low levels on weekends. There was no accumulation of arsenic in urine over time. Hair arsenic concentrations ranged from 0.02 - 358.0 mg/kg. Arsenic concentrations increased during the spraying season but returned to preseason levels once herbicide application ceased. Three workers had pre-exposure values above the range considered normal for arsenic content of hair. However, only on of the three workers was consistently above normal values throughout the study period.

• Corporate Authors:

  Tulane University

  School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, 1430 Tulane Ave
  New Orleans, LA  United States  70112

  Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development

  1201 Capitol Access Road, P.O. Box 94245
  Baton Rouge, LA  United States  70804-9245

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Abdelghani, A A
  • Anderson, A C
  • Jaghabir, M
  • Mather, F
  • Palmgren, M
  • White, L
  • Englande, A J
• Publication Date: 1984-6

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 44 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Blood analysis; Herbicides; Maintenance personnel; Occupational diseases; Physiological aspects; Urine
• Uncontrolled Terms: Arsenic; Right of way
• Old TRIS Terms: Blood tests
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Design; Environment; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00451992
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/LA-83/1SS(B), 83-1SS(B)
• Contract Numbers: LaHPR 83-1SS(B)
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: May 31 1986 12:00AM