This study was designed obtain and early detection the workers exposed to excessive copper dust and also to present biological exposure index. The exposed group consisted of 62 male workers at the metallurgy workplaces. To evaluate the. degree of individual exposure the copper dust, each personal air sampling was collected. Biological exposures in the exposed group was quantified for the blood and urine copper levels using flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The control group consisted of 70 male adults with the history of nonexposure to copper by the inhalation occupationally.
The average concentration of copper in blood and urine of the exposed group was 49.44±8.90 (29.05-80.63) ㎍/㎗, 39.99±11.04 (29.62-80.63) ㎍/ℓ respectively. The average concentration of air borne copper was 048±0.31 (0.03-1.18) ㎎/㎥. The average concentration of blood and urine copper in the control group was 42.93±5.84 (25.05-57.85) ㎍/㎗, 33.02±13.38(12.00-82.05) ㎍/ℓ respectively.
The difference observed in the average concentration of blond and urine copper of the exposed and control groups was statistically significant separately (blood copper, p$lt;0.05 ; urine copper, p$lt;0.05). The relationship between the individual exposure concentration of air borne copper and the concentration of the blood and urine copper was statistically significant, respectively (blood copper, r=0.54, p$lt;0.05 ; urine copper, r=0.37, p$lt;0.05). The relationship between the working duration and the concentration of blood and urine was not statistically significant respectively (blood copper, r=0.14 ; urine copper, r=0.12). The relationship between the age and the concentration of blood and urine copper was statistically not significant respectively (blood copper, r=0.13 ; urine copper, r=-0.06). The relationship between blood and urine copper concentration in the exposed group was statistically significant (r=0.62, p$lt;0.05), and the relationship between blood and urine copper concentration in the control group was also statistically significant (r=0.39, p$lt; 0.05).
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