Occupational exposures during the production of catalysts containing inorganic nickel compounds.

Abstract

Debates within EEC Regulatory Authorities on the toxicological status of nickel compounds, had as a consequence that the occupational exposure standards for these compounds were under review. ECMA (European Catalyst Manufactures Association, established in the early 1980's to provide a forum whereby environmental and safety aspects of production, storage, use and disposal of metal/metal oxide containing catalysts should be discussed), decided to establish what the catalyst industry was capable of achieving in their processes. Because currently available monitoring data for nickel ex-member companies, was insufficient, two nickel monitoring surveys were executed to obtain comprehensive and comparable data on exposure to nickel during catalyst manufacturing operations, from a large number of catalyst producers. ECMA compiled program details in order to ensure that a standard methodology was followed by all participants; the program consisted of personal dust sampling, urine-analysis and a questionnaire on process details. Relationship between airborne and urinary nickel levels was investigated using regression methods. Unlike the findings of some reports it was found that there was no simple correlation between the parameters, probably by the variance in type of nickel compound. The effect of using a dust mask, length of exposure, exposure to insoluble nickel and smoking habits on urinary nickel concentration was investigated by analysis of variance. Despite significantly lower atmospheric exposure to water soluble compared with insoluble nickel compounds, there was no significant difference in urinary nickel concentration. The efficacy of dust masks in reducing the body burden of nickel was confirmed. There was no significant difference between the urinary nickel concentration of smokers and non-smokers in the non-exposed groups.