Aluminium potroom
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Super Categories
Subcategories
None
Known Synonyms
aluminium
Aluminium Sodium Flouride
Authors
There is considerable debate as to whether potroom asthma should be classified with standard occupational asthma, or whether it is due to toxic irritation from hydrogen fluoride, which is present in potroom air. Aluminium sodium fluoride is present as a particulate in potrooms, together with hydrogen fluoride and other toxic gasses. There is a relationship between urinary fluoride levels and disease. This could result from either gas or particulate exposure. There are good longitudinal studies showing a latent interval from first exposure to disease, the development of non-specific reactivity which improves after exposure ceases, individual susceptibility and low dose elicitation, similar to occupational asthma with sensitisation. There are no specific challenge studies with aluminium sodium fluoride dust in potroom workers with asthma, if positive this would support sensitisation rather than a toxic effect of the hydrogen fluoride.
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Agent |
Aluminium Sodium Fluoride |
Other Names
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Potroom asthma, aluminium fluoride, aluminium chloride |
Sources of Exposure
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Mostly in the primary smelting of aluminium, a few cases have been described in melters and casters of refined aluminium were aluminium fluoride is used to dedross the molten aluminium or chlorine used to degas the aluminium |
| Jobs |
Potroom worker, melter, caster |
Epidemiological Studies
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There are very good longitudinal studies from Norway in the 1980's and 1990's amongst others
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| Air Measurements |
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| Specific IgE/ Skin prick test |
No specific IgE has been measured. Skin prick testing with potroom dust have been negative in workers with occupational asthma |
| Biological Monitoring |
Urinary fluoride can be used as a biological monitor in potroom workers |
| Specific Challenge |
There are no challenge reports in potroom workers. Nebulised aluminium chloride has been used in one worker degassing molten alumium with chlorine
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Early References
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The early studies are from the 1930's in Norway where the disease was thought to be due to fluoride intoxification. |
Substitutes
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No substitutes. Environmental controls have substantially reduced the risks. |
Oasys Notifications for Aluminium potroom
The Oasys Audit scheme started midway through 2010 and collects agents typed in through the Oasys program. The years before 2010 show old data entered during 2010 or later and are likely to have many fewer notifications. We expect Oasys to become more widely adopted as time goes by so increasing notifications does not necessarily mean an increasing problem.
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Selected References for Aluminium potroom
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