Exposure to soluble nickel in electrolytic nickel refining

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Toxicology
• Industrial Hygiene

Background:

• Electrolytic nickel refineries report increased nasal cancer incidence.
• Occupational exposure to nickel is a known health concern.
• Understanding nickel exposure pathways is crucial for worker safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess past and present nickel exposure in refinery workers.
• To investigate potential genotoxic effects of nickel exposure.
• To correlate nickel levels with air, blood, and urine concentrations and genotoxicity.

Main Methods:

• Nickel analysis in air (personal and stationary sampling), blood, and urine.
• Assessment of genotoxic effects via micronucleus analysis in buccal mucosa smears.
• Comparison of exposed workers with a referent group.

Main Results:

• Nickel concentrations in breathing zones varied with and without mask use.
• Airborne nickel concentrations showed a decrease after 1988.
• Elevated urinary nickel levels persisted even after vacation, but no correlation with air nickel was observed.
• No significant elevation in micronucleated cells was found in workers compared to referents.
• No relationship between micronucleus frequency and nickel levels in air, urine, or blood.

Conclusions:

• Nickel exposure in the refinery was significant, with persistent urinary levels.
• Despite exposure, genotoxic effects (micronuclei) were not significantly elevated in buccal cells.
• Current protective measures may be effective in preventing measurable genotoxicity in this cohort.
• Further research may be needed to explore long-term or different genotoxic endpoints.