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NIOSH Home > Safety and Health Topics >Skin Exposures and Effects >Occupational & Environmental Exposures of Skin to Chemicals- 2005> Abstracts

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Abstract for Poster 35

 

 

Assessing skin exposure to nickel, chromium and cobalt by a wipe washing technique

C. Lidén*1, L. Skare1, B. Lind2, G. Nise3, M. Vather2
1Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Stockholm County Council and Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
2Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
3Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

Background

Contact allergy to nickel, chromium and cobalt is frequent. Occupational exposure may cause sensitisation and elicitation of allergic contact dermatitis. The level of exposure in different occupations is not known. The aim of the present study was to develop a method for assessment of skin exposure to nickel, chromium and cobalt, and to assess the exposure in some occupations, involving the handling of coins, tools and other items.

Methods

Wipe washing was performed using cellulose wipes, soaked with weak acid (1% nitric acid). The metal content was measured using ICP-SFMS. To determine the sampling efficiency, solutions containing nickel, chromium and cobalt at different concentration were applied onto the palms of volunteers (n=5). Sampling was performed and the sampling efficiency was determined. The method was then used in two studies of skin exposure. Coins were handled for 1 hour by volunteers (n=3), simulating cashiers’ work. Sets of 1 SEK and 2 EUR coins, respectively, were handled in separate sessions. 18 workers (cashiers, locksmiths, carpenters, office workers) performed their normal tasks for 1 or 2 hours. Sampling was performed after exposure.

Results

The sampling efficiency of the acid wipe washing technique was 93-100%. Intense handling of coins for 1 hour resulted in deposition of nickel on the hands, about the same amounts (mean on fingers: 1.5 µg Ni/cm2) for 1 SEK and 2 EUR. Also in workers, nickel was deposited on the skin during the 1 or 2 hour exposure (mean on fingers of locksmiths 0.9; carpenters 0.4; cashiers 0.3; office workers 0.03 µg Ni/cm2). In locksmiths, also chromium was deposited.

Conclusions

The acid wipe washing technique with analysis by ICP-SFMS was efficient and performed well. The analytical result is expressed as µg/cm2, the most relevant measure in contact allergy. We demonstrate that skin is contaminated by nickel in jobs where items such as locks, keys, tools and coins are handled. Handling 2 EUR (CuNi and CuZnNi) and 1 SEK (CuNi) coins resulted in similar deposition of nickel. The accumulated dose deposited in a workday may, in some occupations, be several µg/cm2. Such amounts are known to elicit allergic contact dermatitis.

 

Content last modified: 17 May 2005

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