Nickel concentrations in plasma and urine of shipyard workers

Nickel concentrations were analyzed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry in plasma from workers at a repair shipyard and a construction shipyard. Four groups of workers were studied: (a) 62 welders, (b) 31 painters, (c) 27 riggers/carpenters, and (d) 21 shipfitters/pipefitters. Controls were 15 hospital workers and 28 retirees at the repair shipyard. In the combined groups of all tested workers at the repair shipyard, increased plasma Ni concentrations (greater than 5.2 micrograms/liter) occurred in 32 of 82 subjects (39%): (p less than .05 vs increased plasma Ni concentrations in 13 of 59 workers at the construction shipyard [22%], and p less than .001 vs increased plasma Ni concentrations in 1 of 43 controls [2%]). At both shipyards, plasma Ni concentrations were higher in the groups of painters and shipfitters/pipefitters than in the groups of welders and riggers/carpenters. In random urine specimens from workers at the construction shipyard. Ni concentrations exceeded 5.2 micrograms/liter in 9 of 24 welders [38%], (p less than .01 vs increased urine Ni concentrations in 1 of 15 controls [hospital workers]). The ratios of plasma/urine nickel concentrations were higher in painters (p less than .05) and lower in welders (p less than .05) than in other workers at the construction shipyard. Increased concentrations of nickel in body fluids of shipyard workers are attributed to exposures to nickel compounds and alloys in the working environment.