Potassium sodium tartrate

Health surveillance data

Administrative data

Endpoint:

health surveillance data

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: The study has been assessed for the use in a category approach. According to the methodology and to the extent of available details, the study has been judged as reliable with restrictions.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

RISCHI PER LA SALUTE DEGLI OPERAI DI UNA FABBRICA DI ACIDO TARTARICO

Author:

M. BARSOTTI et al.

Year:

1954

Bibliographic source:

La medicina del lavoro.1954;45(4);239-249

Materials and methods

Study type:

medical monitoring

Endpoint addressed:

acute toxicity: inhalation

skin irritation / corrosion

other: urine analysis... (see attached file)

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

no data

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

(+)-tartaric acid

EC Number:

201-766-0

EC Name:

(+)-tartaric acid

Cas Number:

87-69-4

Molecular formula:

C4H6O6

IUPAC Name:

tartaric acid

Test material form:

not specified

Details on test material:

No details on test material identity are available.

Method

Type of population:

occupational

Ethical approval:

not specified

Details on study design:

A hygienic-sanitary study has been carried out on 156 workers in a factory of tartaric acid and its derivates.

Results and discussion

Results:

The most frequent symptoms in the exposed group is represented by:
- Erosion of the masticatory surfaces of the incisive and canine teeth
- Cutaneous ulcers
- Reddening and edema of the ungual vallum
- Ulcers and hyperacid gastroduodenitis
- Urine analysis

Any other information on results incl. tables

Pathological events in workers involved in the production of tartaric acid.

Section	N° Workers	Erosion of the masticatory surfaces of the incisive and canine teeth	Cutaneous ulcers -  Reddening and edema of the ungual vallum	Ulcers and hyperacid gastroduodenitis	Feverish attack
Warehouse	24	8 (33.3%)	-	-	-
Roasting	9	2 (22.2%)	-	-	24
Manufacturing	93	12 (12.9%)	2(2.1%)	7(7.6)	-
Centrifuge	18	3 (16.6%)	4(22.2%)	2(11.1)	-
Shipping Warehouse	12	5 (41.4%)	3(25%)	7(58.3)
	156	30 (19.3%)	9(5.8%)	16(10.2%)	24

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Skin ulcers was frequent in workers exposed to direct contact with tartaric acid pure or concentrated.

Executive summary:

30 workers (19.3%) showed modest signs of erosion of the masticatory surfaces of the incisive and canine teeth, with all the features and frequency equal to those found in other workers of the same age and social conditions, not exposed to tartaric acid. The formation of skin ulcers was frequent. These disorders are found only in workers exposed to direct contact with tartaric acid pure or concentrated. In these same workers are frequent gastric ulcers and hyperacid gastroduodenitis. Involved workers in the grinding of raw materials showed feverish attack at the end of the work shift, lasting a few hours, without alteration of the terms and conditions. These disturbances are due to inhalation of powder of pure tartaric acid, which contains magnesium oxide, with pathogenesis similar to the fever of the smelters. Tartaric acid is eliminated even in doses of 450/600 mg/L, without causing visible damage to the renal parenchyma.