Behavioral interventions to reduce nickel exposure in a nickel processing plant

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Science
• Toxicology

Background:

• Nickel is essential in many industries but poses significant health risks, including respiratory illnesses, allergies, and cancer, from occupational exposure.
• Controlling and reducing nickel exposure in workplaces is crucial due to its widespread industrial use and associated health hazards.
• Existing evidence necessitates strategies to mitigate nickel exposure risks in occupational settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of educational interventions in reducing nickel exposure among Indonesian nickel smelter workers.
• To evaluate the impact of different educational approaches (booklet, presentation, personal feedback) on personal nickel exposure levels.
• To determine if improved hygiene behaviors, prompted by education, can lead to measurable reductions in nickel biomarkers.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled study involving 99 Indonesian nickel smelter workers assigned to three groups.
• Interventions included educational booklets, presentations, and personal biomarker feedback.
• Pre- and post-intervention measurements of airborne dust and nickel, along with blood and urine nickel concentrations.

Main Results:

• No significant difference was observed in airborne nickel or dust concentrations before and after interventions.
• Significant reductions in post-intervention urinary and blood nickel concentrations were observed across all groups.
• Median urinary nickel decreased from 43.2–57.4 µg/L to 8.5–9.6 µg/L, and serum nickel from 1.7–2.0 µg/L to 0.1 µg/L post-intervention.

Conclusions:

• Educational interventions, particularly those incorporating personal feedback, can significantly reduce personal nickel exposure in smelter workers.
• Changes in personal hygiene behavior are key to reducing internal nickel exposure, as indicated by biomarker levels.
• Targeted educational strategies are effective in mitigating occupational health risks associated with nickel exposure.