Matte, nickel

Exposure related observations in humans: other data

Administrative data

Endpoint:

exposure-related observations in humans: other data

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Study period:

conducted in 1995

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: see 'Remark'

Remarks:

Meets generally accepted scientific methods with sufficient documentation. Relevant exposure to submission substance, adequate detail on exposure and sampling methods. (A detailed description of the scoring criteria can be found in the attached document).(A detailed description of the scoring criteria can be found in the .pdf document attached to the 'Exposure Scoring Rationale Document' record at the beginning of Section 7.10.5).

Cross-reference

Cross-reference 1

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

reference to same study

Cross-reference 2

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

reference to other study

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Characterisation of workers' exposure in a Russian nickel refinery.

Author:

Thomassen I, Niebor E, Ellingsen D, Hetland S, Norseth T, Odland JØ, Romanova N, Chernova V, Tchachtchine VP.

Year:

1999

Bibliographic source:

J Environ Monit 1: 15-22.

Materials and methods

Type of study / information:

Air exposure estimates by nickel species

Endpoint addressed:

not applicable

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

No standard method reported. Details of study provided in the following sections

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Mixed Nickel Species

IUPAC Name:

Mixed Nickel Species

Details on test material:

- Name of test material (as cited in study report): Mixed Nickel Species
- Molecular formula (if other than submission substance): not different than submission substance
- Molecular weight (if other than submission substance): not different than submission substance
- Smiles notation (if other than submission substance): not different than submission substance
- InChl (if other than submission substance): not different than submission substance
- Structural formula attached as image file (if other than submission substance): not different than submission substance
- Physical state: aerosol
- Other details on test substance not reported or not applicable

Method

Ethical approval:

not applicable

Details on study design:

Aerosol concentrations of Ni species were measured from the Monchegorsk refinery in Russia. At this facility, nickel-copper matte is the product of primary refining, which invloves the smelting and converting of sulfide ore. Personal air sampling (inhalable aerosols) was conducted in the roasting/anode casting and the electrowinning departments.
Urine specimens were also collected pre- and post shift.

Exposure assessment:

measured

Details on exposure:

TYPE OF EXPOSURE: Air (inhalation) exposure

TYPE OF EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT: Personal air sampling and urine sampling.
Nickel speciation conducted by the consecutive leaching procedure (Zatka et al. 1992, Env. Sci. Technol., 26:138-144).

EXPOSURE LEVELS:
Department / Mean (geomean) mg Ni/m3
-Roasting / 21 (11) mg Ni/m3
-Anode casting (old) / 15 (10) mg Ni/m3
-Anode casting (new) / 2.3 (1.5) mg Ni/m3
-Electrorefining (old) / 0.27 (0.25) mg Ni/m3
-Electrorefining (new) / 0.34 (0.28) mg Ni/m3
-Rinsing (old) / 0.32 (0.17) mg Ni/m3
-Rinsing (new) / 0.28 (0.17) mg Ni/m3

EXPOSURE PERIOD: 147 (8-hour) shift samples were collected

POSTEXPOSURE PERIOD: not applicable

DESCRIPTION / DELINEATION OF EXPOSURE GROUPS / CATEGORIES: Exposure areas delineated by refinery department

Results and discussion

Results:

As a percentage the 'total' nickel in air had a content (as a median) of 4.4% metallic nickel, 60% soluble nickel, 3.7% sulphidic nickel, and ~17% oxidic nickel. Urine concentrations indicated significant nickel exposure. (See table below for results)

Any other information on results incl. tables

Nickel speciation and Urine Ni data by department

Department	Soluble Ni(%)	Sulfidic Ni(%)	Metallic Ni(%)	Oxidic Ni(%)	Total Ni (mg/m3)	Urine Ni (Mean/Geomean ug/L)
Roasting	2.8-22	4.2-48	4.4-13	36-81	3.1-7.9	121 / 87
Anode casting (old)	2.5	2,2	16	80	11	268 / 159
Anode casting (new)	1.5-19	0.1-8.1	19-26	46-80	0.19-7.9	337 / 131
Electrorefining (old)	84-99	1.0-1.8	<1.1	<0.6-15	0.086-0.17	292 / 179
Electrorefining (new)	60-87	6.7-19	<2-4.4	6.7-17	0.045-0.09	191 / 127
Rinsing (new)	55-77	3.7-7.7	1.0-5.4	3.7-34	0.013-0.3	77 / 53
Rinsing (old)	-	-	-	-	-	123 / 88

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

As a percentage the 'total' nickel in air had a content (as a median) of 4.4% metallic nickel, 60% soluble nickel, 3.7% sulphidic nickel, and ~17% oxidic
nickel. The data collected by Thomassen et al. (1999) represent processes and industrial hygiene practices that are not common in current
European operations.

Executive summary:

STUDY RATED BY AN INDEPENDENT REVIEWER.