Distribution of nickel in lungs from former nickel workers

Objective: The purpose of this work was to study the distribution of nickel within lung tissue obtained from nickel-exposed people and to evaluate the␣use of only one single sample for determination of the nickel burden of the lung. Methods and materials: The material used was lung tissue obtained from 15 former nickel refinery workers who had been exposed to a variety of nickel compounds such as Ni₃S₂, NiO, Ni⁰, NiSO₄, and NiCl₂. Ten samples taken from different locations of the lung as well as from the right and left bronchus and from the right lower lobe (total 13 samples per individual) were analyzed for nickel by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Samples obtained from ten people not connected to the refinery served as a reference group. Results: The arithmetic mean value ± SD for nickel concentration was 50 ± 150 μg g⁻¹ dry wt. Biopsies collected on the center of the lower right lobe had an average nickel concentration of 82 ± 252 μg g⁻¹. The average nickel concentration detected in the right and left bronchus was 5.9 ± 11.6 and 3.8 ± 6.0 μg g⁻¹, respectively. Lung tissue obtained from ten people not connected to the refinery had an average nickel concentration of 0.74 ± 0.44 μg g⁻¹. Conclusions: The significant findings based on log-normal distribution of the nickel concentration were as follows: (1) samples obtained from the right lung showed no significant difference from samples taken from the left lung–a comparison of the nickel concentration detected in all the lung lobes showed that no single lobe differed from another; (2) the concentration of nickel found in the main bronchus of the refinery workers, although elevated, was significantly lower than the concentration detected in the remaining tissue; and (3) one single biopsy did not reflect the nickel burden of the lung. Received: 20 November 1997 / Accepted: 21 April 1998     

Investigations on the quantitative determination of nickel and chromium in human lung tissue

Summary Nickel (Ni) and some of its relatively insoluble compounds as well as chromates may be able to induce cancer in the region of the lungs, as well as in the nose and paranasal sinuses after occupational exposure. Latency periods may amount to 20 years and more. The results of recent investigations have shown that these metals cumulate in the lung tissue after inhalation of relatively insoluble chromium and nickel compounds. The quantitative detection of these heavy metals in samples of pulmonary tissue hence permits the amount of past exposure to be estimated. To establish the normal values, samples of pulmonary tissue from 30 normal subjects were investigated for chromium and nickel content. The samples were taken from different segments and lobes of the lungs, taking topographical anatomical criteria into consideration. In addition, 15 persons who had formerly been exposed to nickel and/or chromium (11 nickel refinery workers, of whom 10 had died of lung cancer, 2 stainless steel welders, 1 foundry worker, 1 electrical technician) were also investigated. From the results of 495 tissue samples from the normal group, median chromium concentrations between 130 and 280 ng/g were calculated, with median nickel concentrations of 20–40 ng/g (wet weight). If these values are related to the nickel concentrations measured in refinery workers, values 112-5,860 times higher were found. The concentrations were about 500 times higher than normal for nickel, and about 60 times higher than normal for chromium in the stainless steel welders. For the foundry workers who died of lung cancer, chromium and nickel concentrations in the normal range were calculated, with the exception of the nickel concentrations in the upper and lower lobes of the right lung. The very high nickel concentrations found in the samples of lung tissue from former nickel refinery workers should be regarded as a guideline with regard to the appraisal of the causal relationship between lung cancer and occupational exposure to relatively insoluble nickel compounds. This result is also supported by epidemiological investigations on this subgroup and must thus be considered etiologically conclusive. For the welders, chromium and nickel concentrations were found that were markedly above normal, but as yet there is no epidemiologically reliable verification for the increased occurrence of malignancies in this occupational group. On the basis of present scientific knowledge, no indications were found of relevant chromium and/or nickel exposure of the lung tissue that might be able to induce lung cancer in either foundry workers or for electric technicians.Dedicated to Professor V. Becker on his 65th birthday     

Cancer risk among workers at a copper/nickel smelter and nickel refinery in Finland

Summary A total of 1388 workers employed for at least 3 months at a copper/nickel smelter and nickel refinery were followed up for cancer from 1953 to 1987 through the Finnish Cancer Registry. There were 1339 male and 49 female workers, making a total of 27130 and 706 person-years, respectively. All of the women worked in the refinery, which opened in 1960, the same year the smelting of nickel began. A total of 67 cancers were diagnosed among the men, the standardized incidence ratio for all cancers being 1.0. No cancer was found among the women (1.8 expected). The risk of cancer among men was analysed according to primary site, exposure to nickel, type of work, years since first exposure and age at diagnosis. In the subcohort of nickel refinery workers, one case of sinonasal cancer was observed, against 0.02 expected, but otherwise no significantly increased risks of cancer were found. In addition to the small size of the cohort, the non-positive finding concerning lung cancer might be related to the relatively low arsenic exposure and, perhaps, to the late commencement of nickel production.     

Update of cancer incidence among workers at a copper/nickel smelter and nickel refinery

Objectives: To assess cancer risk among nickel-exposed workers. Methods: We updated cancer incidence among 1388 workers employed for at least 3 months at a copper/nickel smelter and nickel refinery in Harjavalta, Finland. There were 1155 workers exposed to nickel during the period 1960–1985 in the smelter (566 workers), repair shop (239 workers), or refinery (418 workers). Cancer incidence was followed through the files of the Finnish Cancer Registry up to 31 December 1995. For overall cancer and for a priori selected specific cancer types the ratio of observed to expected numbers of cases was computed as a standardized incidence ratio (SIR), controlled for age, gender, and calendar period and using the region-specific rates as a reference. Results: The overall cancer incidence among both nickel-exposed and unexposed subcohorts was at the expected level. A small increase in lung cancer incidence, which reached statistical significance among workers with a latency exceeding 20 years, was observed among the smelter workers exposed to insoluble nickel compounds. Among workers in the refinery, who were exposed primarily to nickel sulfate at levels below 0.5 mg/m³ as well as to low concentrations of other nickel compounds, there was an increased risk for nasal cancer (SIR 41.1, 95% CI 4.97–148), positively associated with latency and duration of employment, and an excess risk for stomach (SIR 4.98, 95% CI 1.62–11.6) and lung (SIR 2.61, 95% CI 0.96–5.67) cancers. Conclusions: Since elevated nasal and lung cancer risks were confined to the refinery, where the primary exposure was to nickel sulfate, it is likely that nickel sulfate is mainly responsible for the elevated respiratory cancer risk. We cannot rule out whether the excess stomach cancer risk is a chance finding, or related to the working environment. Received: 11 September 1997 / Accepted: 17 October 1997     

Biomonitoring of nickel and chromium in human pulmonary tissue

Nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr) and some of its compounds may be able to induce cancer in the lungs as well as in the nose and paranasal sinuses after occupational exposure. Latency periods amount to 20 years and more. Therefore objective exposure data are not available in the most cases and expert evaluation of the causal connection is often difficult. Recent investigations have shown, that Ni and Cr can cumulate in human lung tissue after occupational exposure. For the evaluation of normal Ni- and Cr-values a total of 495 human lung tissue samples of 30 occupationally non-exposed persons were analysed by AAS including ZEEMAN-compensation after wet oxidative digestion. Additional samples of 10 deceased persons who have been occupationally exposed to nickel in previous times by nickel-refining and welding, especially flame spraying have been investigated. The median Ni- and Cr- concentrations in the lungs of the non-exposed persons ranged between 20–40 resp. 133–277 ng/g (wet weight). In nickel refinery workers Ni- concentrations were found which exceeded the normal range about 1,000. In welders, especially flame sprayers, also values more than 100 times higher could be analysed for Ni and Cr. Partially these concentrations were found years after the end of the inhalative exposure.     

对苯二胺对工人肺功能和健康相关生活质量的影响

目的分析对苯二胺职业接触人员的肺功能以及健康相关的生活质量情况。方法选取某染发剂生产企业中使用对苯二胺作为生产原料的染发剂生产车间的接触工人(100人)以及同一企业内不接触对苯二胺的工人(24人)作为主要对象,使用36项健康调查简表(SF-36)对工人的健康相关生活质量问卷进行调查,并进行职业健康检查,肺功能测试指标包括用力肺活量(FVC),1秒钟用力呼气量(FEV1.0),以及FEV1.0/FVC。结果调查工人中对苯二胺接触组和对照组的收缩压的差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。接触组的各项肺功能指标FVC、FEV1.0、FEV1.0/FVC都低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),接触组躯体疼痛(P=0.002)、一般健康状况(P=0.029)、精力(P=0.038)、精神健康(P=0.003)在均低于对照组,差异有统计学意义。结论对苯二胺职业接触可能会对职业人群肺功能产生潜在危害,并影响工人的健康相关生活质量。     

Risk of lung cancer in workers producing stainless steel and metallic alloys

Objectives: The mortality of workers involved in the production of stainless and alloyed steel from 1968 to 1992 was studied, in order to investigate the risk of lung cancer due to exposure to metals, i.e. iron oxides, chromium and/or nickel compounds. Methods: The study design was a historical cohort mortality study and a nested case-control study concerning lung cancer. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were computed using regional mortality rates as an external reference for comparing observed and expected numbers of deaths, adjusting for age, sex and calendar time. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs). Occupational exposure was assessed through the complete job histories of cases and controls and a specific job-exposure matrix. Results: The cohort comprised 4,288 male and 609 female workers. The observed overall mortality was significantly lower than expected [649 deaths; SMR = 0.91; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84–0.98]. No significant SMR was observed for mortality from lung cancer (54 deaths; SMR = 1.19; CI 0.88–1.55). The case-control study was based on 54 cases and 162 individually matched controls. Smoking habits were available for 71%. No lung cancer excess was observed for exposure to (1) metals and/or their compounds, i.e. iron (OR = 0.94, CI 0.48–1.86), chromium and/or nickel (OR = 1.18, CI 0.62–2.25), and cobalt (OR = 0.64, CI 0.33–1.25), (2) acid mists (OR = 0.43, CI 0.17–1.10), and (3) asbestos (OR =  1.00, CI 0.54–1.86). With respect to exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and silica, which are often found together in workplaces, (1) high and statistically significant lung cancer excesses were observed, the ORs being 1.95 (CI 1.03–3.72) and 2.47 (CI 1.28–4.77) respectively, (2) quantitative exposure parameters revealed upward trends reaching statistical significance (P < 0.05), and (3) adjustments for tobacco consumption did not reveal any confounding factors from smoking. Conclusion: This study failed to detect any relationship between lung cancer and exposure to iron, chromium, nickel and/or their compounds. High and statistically significant relative risks, along with increasing trends, were observed for simultaneous exposure to PAHs and silica. Received: 12 April 1999 / Accepted: 2 October 1999     

甘肃省某镍矿职业病危害调查及评价

目的识别、分析与评价甘肃省某镍矿可能产生的职业病有害因素及其危害程度,提出相应的防护对策与措施,预防和控制职业病的发生。方法依据相关法律、法规和规范标准,采用现场职业卫生调查和检测法。结果该镍矿在开采过程中存在的主要职业病危害因素是矽尘、其他粉尘、水泥粉尘、一氧化碳、二氧化氮、二氧化硫、噪声、高温。检测16个粉尘作业工种,合格11个,合格率68.75%;对18个噪声作业点进行噪声测定,合格作业点16个,合格率88.89%。对一氧化碳、二氧化氮、二氧化硫和气象条件进行检测,结果均符合相关标准要求。结论尽管有针对性地采取了通风防护工程,但该镍矿粉尘和噪声危害严重,建议企业配备良好的防护设备,同时保证防护设施正常运行,有效地预防与控制职业病的发生。     

The cost-effectiveness of radon-induced lung cancer prevention in schools

An economic evaluation of a radon-induced lung cancer prevention programme for schools in the United Kingdom is undertaken in this study, which presents a cost-effectiveness analysis with a generalisable model for estimating the cost-effectiveness of a radon remediation programme for schools from a societal perspective. It follows the guidelines for the methodological framework now considered appropriate in the economic evaluation of health interventions and employs best available national UK data and information from Northamptonshire on the costs and effectiveness of radon identification and remediation in schools, and the costs and health impact of lung cancer cases for all state schools in Northamptonshire between 1993 and 1997 (348 schools, including 170 adult staff and 1820 pupils). The resultant cost-effectiveness ratio was 7550 per life-year gained in 1997 UK pound sterling. Results from the sensitivity analysis show that the ratio is particularly sensitive to assumptions concerning two parameters: the average capital cost of remediation and discount rate applied to life years. This study highlights the need for the evaluation of other schools remediation-based radon-induced lung cancer prevention programmes in other countries using similar methodological techniques. Compared to other health interventions in the UK, the schools programme has a favourable ratio. When compared to other lung cancer prevention programmes available, however, the schools programme ratio is less favourable. Uncertainties remain around increased risks from childhood exposure to indoor radon.     

扶正解毒汤对镍电解工人体内脂质过氧化的保护作用

目的研究从事镍电解工人体内镍负荷与自由基代谢变化的关系,并用扶正解毒汤干预体内脂质过氧化作用。方法自2010年7月—2011年7月,以100名镍电解作业人员为接触组,以80名无镍接触的健康人作为非接触组,分别测定两组人员血清中镍含量作为体内负荷;同时测定接触组服用扶正解毒汤1个月后血清中镍、丙二醛(MDA)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽(GSH)的水平。结果镍作业组血清中MDA含量明显升高;SOD活力、GSH含量明显下降,差异有统计学意义(P0.01),服用扶正解毒汤后镍、MDA含量明显下降;SOD活力、GSH含量明显升高,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),结论镍具有增加体内脂质过氧化产物、降低机体抗氧化能力的作用;扶正解毒汤对体内脂质过氧化有明显的保护作用。     

急性羰基镍中毒大鼠肺组织和细胞损伤的实验观察

目的 观察大鼠急性羰基镍中毒后肺细胞DNA损伤程度以及组织细胞病理变化。方法 SD大鼠静态分别吸人20、135和250 mg/m3羰基镍染毒30 min,另设250 mg/m3氯气染毒组和正常对照组在染毒后第1、2、3和7天取肺组织单细胞凝胶电泳试验检测肺细胞DNA损伤程度,同时观察大鼠肺组织病理变化和细胞超微结构改变。结果 不同浓度羰基镍染毒后不同时间,大鼠肺组织细胞均有损伤,以72 h DNA损伤最重,但损伤晚于氯气。不同浓度羰基镍染毒大鼠肺组织有炎性渗出和增生,部分细支气管破坏,黏膜坏死脱落;肺泡Ⅰ型细胞的细胞器肿胀,肺泡Ⅱ型细胞板层体减少且排空,胞质内空泡增多、线粒体肿胀,肺泡纵隔内胶原纤维增生。结论 急性羰基镍对大鼠肺组织细胞有明显的损伤作用,且存在剂量-效应关系和时间-效应关系。     

镍接触作业工人抗氧化能力的研究

目的探讨职业性镍接触对工人抗氧化能力的影响。方法根据生产工艺的不同,选取某钢铁企业镍接触工人男性炼钢工、轧钢工及钢渣处理工共181人作为镍接触组,同时选择该企业的男性水处理工55人为对照组。黄嘌呤氧化酶法、化学比色法和硫代巴比妥酸法分别测定两组人群血清中总超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活力和丙二醛(MDA)含量。结果不同工种镍接触组总SOD活力、GSH-Px活力和MDA含量分别与对照组相比,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);不同工龄组总SOD活力、GSH-Px活力和MDA含量分别与对照组相比,除0～5 a组总SOD活力、GSH-Px活力分别与对照组相比,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)外,其他各年龄组差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);不同工龄组MDA含量分别与对照组相比,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论镍接触对工人抗氧化能力有影响,抗氧化酶活力降低,脂质过氧化产物增加。     

镍冶炼烟尘对中国仓鼠肺细胞毒性作用的实验研究

目的 观察镍冶炼烟尘对中国仓鼠肺细胞(CHL）的毒性作用。方法 以我国某镍冶炼厂电炉烟道尘为受试物,采用噻唑蓝(MTT)比色法检测CHL细胞活性。结果 不同浓度下的镍冶炼烟尘(6．25、12．50、25．00、50．00、100．00μg／ml)作用一定时间后,CHL细胞存活率下降,呈现出时间．剂量．反应关系。接触受试物36h,细胞生长半数抑制浓度IG50为21．36μg／ml。同时镜下观察细胞形态也发生改变。结论 镍冶炼烟尘可以抑制CHL细胞生长,降低线粒体代谢活性。     

Occupational asthma due to chromium and nickel salts

Background: Exposure to chromium and nickel salts is a poorly characterized cause of occupational asthma. Methods: We describe four patients with work-related asthma due to metallic salts. Skin–prick tests to potassium dichromate and nickel sulfate were performed. The patients underwent methacholine inhalation tests and specific inhalation challenges (SIC) with both chromium and nickel salts. Results: Two patients showed positive skin–prick tests to potassium dichromate and nickel sulfate. All patients had bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine, which increased 24 h after SIC with metallic salts. SIC with potassium dichromate elicited late asthmatic reactions (LAR) in two workers, one subject had an early asthmatic reaction (EAR), and another subject showed a dual asthmatic reaction (DAR). SIC with nickel sulfate induced a DAR in one subject and a late asthmatic reaction in another. Conclusions: Chromium and nickel salts can give rise to occupational asthma in exposed workers. The underlying mechanism may be IgE-mediated in some cases.     

Mortality study of asbestos cement workers

The present study describes cause-specific mortality of asbestos cement workers in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. The cohort included workers in ten factories, most of which started operating between 1955 and 1965. Asbestos, mainly chrysotile, constituted 10%–20% of the dry component of the mixture. Crocidolite range between 5% and 50% of total asbestos. Asbestos concentrations up to 44 ff/cc were reported prior to 1975, while in recent years they have usually been below 0–1 ff/cc. The cohort included 3341 workers who had at some time been employed in the ten factories under study. Their mortality experience was compared with that of the population resident in Emilia Romagna. Vital status was ascertained at 1989. Seventy-three subjects were lost to followup (2.2%). Mortality from all causes and from all types of cancer was increased in the cohort. Malignant neoplasms of the respiratory tract showed a significant increase (SMR: 134; 90% confidence interval: 101–175; 40 observed) due to lung cancer (SMR: 124; 90% confidence interval: 91–166; 33 observed) and neoplasms of the pleura, mediastinum, and other parts of the respiratory tract (SMR: 602; 90% confidence interval 237–1267; 5 observed). The discrepancy between observed and expected mortality mainly concerned subjects with at least 20 years of employment in the factories. Five more cases of histologically confirmed mesothelioma occurred after the end of follow-up.     

微波消解-原子吸收光谱法测定人造奶油、氢化油中镍

〔目的〕建立人造奶油、氢化油中镍的微波消解原子吸收测定方法。〔方法〕优化微波消解条件 ,并将其前处理样品测试结果与国标GBl5 196-94附录B中盐酸提取前处理样品测试结果进行比较。〔结果〕对两种前处理样品方法的测试结果进行统计学处理 ,未发现显著性差异。〔结论〕盐酸提取法操作烦琐 ,费时费力。微波消解法快速准确、节约试剂、还可降低分析工作者劳动强度、减少人员受到各种酸液危害的可能性。     

接尘工人经支气管肺活检的病理分析

目的 探讨经纤维支气管镜肺活检肺组织标本病理学改变在尘肺诊断中的价值.方法 2011年5月至2011年9月在我院经支气管肺活检(TBLB)取得肺组织标本的职业性粉尘接触者35例,同期经胸腔镜或开胸肺叶切除取得的肺组织标本的无粉尘接触史的患者27例,进行肺组织纤维组织增生、类结节、粉尘沉积和晶粒偏光等病理指标对比.结果 接尘组中度粉尘沉着6例(17.1％),与对照组(0)相比,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).接尘组肺组织纤维化增生28例(80.0％),明显高于对照组(11例,40.7％),差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).接尘组有6例发现晶粒偏光阳性,6例发现类结节,对照组病例无晶粒偏光阳性或类结节改变.结论 TBLB病理检查能取得接触粉尘引起肺内相关改变的依据,在尘肺病的诊断中有一定的应用价值.     

Effects of work related confounders on the association between silica exposure and lung cancer: a nested case-control study among Chinese miners and pottery workers

Objective The role of silica in the causation of lung cancer is an ongoing debate. In order to explore whether observed association between silica exposure and lung cancer is confounded by exposure to other occupational carcinogens, we updated a previously nested case-control study among a cohort of male workers in 29 Chinese mines and factories on the basis of an extended follow-up. Methods Five hundred and eleven lung cancer cases and 1,879 matched controls were selected. Exposure to respirable silica as well as relevant occupational confounders were quantitatively assessed based on historical industrial hygiene data. The relationship between exposure to silica and lung cancer was analyzed by conditional logistic regression analysis adjusted for exposure to arsenic, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), radon, and smoking. Results In a crude analysis adjusted for smoking only, a significant trend of increasing risk of lung cancer with exposure to silica was found for tin, iron/copper miners, and pottery workers. But after adjustment for relevant occupational confounders, no relationship between silica and lung cancer can be observed. Instead, there is a significant association between lung cancer mortality and cumulative exposure to inorganic arsenic (OR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.14, 3.04 for each mg/m³-year increase) and carcinogenic PAHs (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.69 for each 100 μg/m³-year increase). Conclusion This analysis does not provide any evidence to show that exposure to silica causes lung cancer in the absence of confounding factors.     

Cancer mortality among municipal pest-control workers

Objectives: This epidemiological study was carried out in order to investigate the hypothesis of a relationship between cancer occurrence and occupational exposure in a population of municipal pest-control workers exposed to a wide range of pesticides and other chemicals. Methods: The study was designed as a mortality historical cohort study. The cohort comprised all subjects ever employed in a municipal pest-control service between 1979 and 1994. The follow-up period lasted from 1979 to 2000. The mortality rates of pest-control workers were compared with those of a regional population. A job exposure matrix was developed, which took into account four types of chemicals: formaldehyde, ethylene oxide, insecticides and rodenticides. Results: None of the 181 subjects of the cohort, leading to 3,107 person-years, was lost to follow-up. Thirty-nine of them died, and all the causes of deaths were ascertained. The standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for all causes of deaths and for all cancer causes were significantly greater than unity: 1.61 (1.14–2.20) and 2.24 (1.39–3.43), respectively. Non-significant excesses were observed for most cancer sites, except for lung cancer, which had a low SMR. We obtained significant excesses for cancer in workers with more than 20 years of employment [SMR=2.42 (1.43–3.82)]. Cancer mortality tended to increase insignificantly with formaldehyde and rodenticides exposures, whereas no clear patterns were observed for ethylene oxide and insecticides. However, significant excesses were observed for the highest exposure levels of formaldehyde, insecticides and rodenticides. Conclusions: This study showed a statistically significant excess of cancer mortality in a population of municipal pest-control workers exposed to a wide variety of chemicals. These cancer sites might be related to occupational activities, since they tended to be more frequently observed when duration of employment increased.