Investigations were carried out in an alkaline battery factory. The study group consisted of 102 persons and the control group of 85 persons. Cadmium in blood (Cd-B) and cadmium in urine (Cd-U), as well as beta 2-microglobulin (B2-M), retinol binding protein (RBP), amino acids in urine were determined. Exposure to cadmium was high; Cd-B and Cd-U concentrations were higher than recommended, 10 micrograms/l and 10 micrograms/g creat. In 65% and 56% of workers, respectively. Excretion of B2-M and RBP in urine was higher than the accepted upper limits of 380 and 130 micrograms/g creat. in about 20% of the workers. A significant correlation was observed between: log Cd-U.log Cd-B (r = 0.85), log B2-M.log RBP (r = 0.66), log Cd-U.log B2-M (r = 0.52), and log Cd-U.log RBP (r = 0.55). To evaluate the admissible period of occupational exposure to cadmium, an integrated exposure index (Cd-B x years of exposure) is proposed. According to the dose-response relationship, an increase of low molecular protein excretion in urine can be expected in 10% of the cases at Cd-U amounting to 10 to 15 micrograms/g creat. and Cd-B x years of about 300 to 400.

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