Abstract for Poster 104

 

 

Metal Sensitisation Risks in an Electrolytic Plating Plant

G. Arcangeli*¹, M. Montalti¹, P. Capone Braga², P. Del Guerra³, L. Guarducci¹, M. Fioriti¹, V. Cupelli^1
1University of Florence, Florence, Italy
²Dip Prevenzione Asl 8, Arezzo, Italy
³Dip Prevenzione Asl 11, Empoli (FI), Italy

Background

Nickel allergy is the most frequent contact allergy and an important cause of hand eczema (Liden et al. Environ. Res. 2002 Mar;88(3):145-155). Chromium salts are able to act as haptens. We wished to evaluate the incidence of skin reactions to nickel and chromium salts on patch testing in a population of workers in a galvanising plant.

Methods

24 workers (average age 37, working history 12 years) from a electrolytic plating plant were examined as follows: physical examination, patch tests (European Series + Cr), spirometry; a specific questionnaire was used to collect information on dermatologic and allergic symptoms. Environmental concentrations of Ni e Cr were evaluated by fixed sampling, while biological concentrations of metals were dosed in urine of workers collected before and after the shifts.  Moreover, the cutaneous metals contaminations was calculated in the liquids used by the workers to wash their hands as previously described (Aprea et Al - Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 2001: 62, 87).

Results

Environmental and biological obtained data are reported in tables 1 and table 2.

Patch test were positive in 4 workers (16.6%) for nickel + cobalt, nickel, formaldehyde and thimerosal

Conclusions

1.       Environmental concentrations of metals are low in the current working conditions of electrolytic plating plants

2.       Nevertheless, cutaneous metals contaminations values were clearly detectable

3.       On the other hand, urinary metals concentrations were low (significantly lower than TLV-TWA), but increased after the shift of about 10%. The data confirm what has been highlighted in other studies

4.       In the specific working conditions under study two workers revealed a sensitisation to nickel (8% of the workers population; not different to the incidence of nickel sensitisation of the rest of the population)

5.       In view of the evidence of cutaneous contamination. the use of protection gloves is required

 

 

	Environ. Cr (μg/m³)	Environ. Ni (μg/m³)	Cutaneous Cr *	Cutaneous Ni *
Mean	0.8	5.8	713	1379
S.D.	0.6	6.4	496	879
Range	0.1-1.8	0.2-27.9	131-2127	234-4289

 

* μg/ 500 ml of distillate water used to wash worker’s hands

 

	Cr Before SW	Cr After SW	Ni Before SW	Ni After SW
Mean	0.9	1.0	7.3	8.4
S.D.	1.1	1.3	7.2	6.0
Range	0.1-5.1	0.1-5.2	0.9-47.4	1.2-51.0

 SW : shift work

 

Content last modified: 22 May 2005