Bone aluminum measured in miners exposed to McIntyre powder

A small pilot study was conducted to test whether the technique of in vivo neutron activation analysis could measure bone aluminum levels in 15 miners who had been exposed to McIntyre Powder over 40 years prior. All miners were over 60 years of age, had worked in mines that used McIntyre Powder, and were sufficiently healthy to travel from northern to southern Ontario for the measurements. Individual aluminum levels were found to be significantly greater than zero with 95% confidence (p < 0.05) in 7 out of the 15 miners. The inverse variance weighted mean of the 15 participants was 21.77 ± 2.27µgAl/gCa. This was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than in a group of 15 non-occupationally exposed subjects of a comparable age from Southern Ontario who had been measured in a previous study. The inverse variance weighted mean bone aluminum content in the non-occupationally exposed group was 3.51 ± 0.85µgAl/gCa. Since the use of McIntyre Powder ceased in 1979, these subjects had not been exposed for more than 40 years. Calculations of potential levels at the cessation of exposure in the 1970s, using a biological half-life of aluminum in bone of 10 to 20 years predicted levels of bone aluminum comparable with studies performed in dialysis patients in the 1970s and 1980s. This pilot study has shown that the neutron activation analysis technique can determine differences in bone aluminum between McIntyre Powder exposed and non-exposed populations even though 40 years have passed since exposure ceased. The technique has potential application as a biomarker of exposure in cross-sectional studies of the health consequences of exposure to McIntyre Powder.

A qualitative descriptive study of underground workers who received aluminum dust treatment and its organizational level impact

From 1943 to 1980, some underground gold and uranium workers in Ontario, Canada were required to inhale aluminum dust for silicosis prevention. Workers were exposed to the dust for up to 30 min daily. This study explored the perceived organizational impact on workers exposed to the aluminum dust treatment in Northeastern Ontario. This qualitative descriptive study included 16 respondents who participated in individual semi-structured interviews. All respondents were Northeastern Ontario workers who were exposed to aluminum dust treatment for at least 1 year. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. Themes that emerged were: 1) confidence and trust in companies, 2) lack of participants' and heath care providers' knowledge, and 3) need for compensation and formal apology. Workers' perceived that their long term health was impacted by exposure. The results will be used to help workers, companies, and unions address workplace exposures. The latest information about McIntyre powder will enhance the knowledge about the impact of the exposure.