Fluctuations of nickel concentrations in urine of electroplating workers

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5850492

Bernacki, E J; Zygowicz, E; Sunderman, Jr, F W

Nickel analyses were performed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry upon urine specimens obtained from electroplating workers at the beginning, middle and end of the work-shift. The means (+- S.D.) for nickel concentrations in urine specimens from seven electroplating workers on three regular workdays were: 34 +- 32 ..mu..g/L (pre-shift); 64 +- ..mu..g/L (mid-shift) and 46 +- ..mu..g/L (end-shift), compared to 2.7 +- 1.6 ..mu..g/L (pre-shift) in 19 controls (hospital workers). Nickel concentrations in urine specimens from six electroplating workers on the first workday after a two-week vacation averaged: 5 +- 3 ..mu..g/L (pre-shift); 9 +- 6 ..mu..g/L (mid-shift), and 12 +- 6 ..mu..g/L (end-shift). Nickel concentrations in personal air samples (seven hours) collected from the breathing zones of five electroplating workers on three regular workdays averaged 9.3 +- 4.4 ..mu..g/m/sup 3/. Nickel concentrations in the air samples were correlated with nickel concentrations in end-shift urine specimens (corr. coef. = 0.70; P < 0.05), but were not correlated with nickel concentrations in pre-shift or mid-shift urine specimens. In view of the fluctuations of urine nickel concentrations that occur during the work-shift, the authors recommend that nickel analyses of eight hour urine specimens be used routinely to monitor occupational exposures to nickel. In situations where timed urine collections are impractical, analyses of end-shift urine specimens are the best alternative.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Connecticut, Farmington
• OSTI ID: 5850492
• Journal Information: Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci.; (United States) Vol. 10:1; ISSN ACLSC
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

552000 -- Public Health
560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BODY FLUIDS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DAILY VARIATIONS
DEPOSITION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELECTRODEPOSITION
ELECTROLYSIS
ELECTROPLATING
ELEMENTS
LYSIS
MATERIALS
METABOLISM
METALS
MONITORING
NICKEL
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
PERSONNEL
PERSONNEL MONITORING
PLATING
PUBLIC HEALTH
QUALITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIATION MONITORING
SAFETY
SPECTROSCOPY
SURFACE COATING
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
URINE
VARIATIONS
WASTES
WORKING CONDITIONS