title: Snapshot of cobalt, chromium and nickel exposure in dental technicians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is not fully understood where and how people are exposed to sensitizing metals. Much can be learnt from studying occupational settings where metals are handled.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To quantify cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) exposure on the skin and in the air, and urine levels, in dental technicians working with tools and alloys that may result in skin and respiratory exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  The metal skin dose was quantified with acid wipe sampling in dental technicians (n = 13). Air exposure was monitored by personal air sampling. Spot urine samples were collected for 24 h. Metals were analysed with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before work, Co was detected on the skin of 10 participants (0.00025-0.0039 µg/cm2), and Cr (0.00051-0.011 µg/cm2) and Ni (0.0062-0.15 µg/cm2) on the skin of all participants. After a 2-h period without hand washing, CoCr-exposed participants had more Co on the skin (p = 0.004) than non-CoCr-exposed participants. Co was found in 10 air samples (0.22-155 µg/m3), Cr in nine (0.43-71 µg/m3), and Ni in four (0.48-3.7 µg/m3). Metal urine concentrations were considered to be normal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dental technicians were exposed to Co, Cr and Ni on the skin and through the air, which was not reflected in the urine concentrations in this study. Cobalt skin doses may potentially elicit allergic contact dermatitis and cause sensitization.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jolinde
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kettelarij
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.|Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Stockholm County Council, 113 65, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Klara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Midander
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lidén
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anneli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Julander
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002857:Chromium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D003035:Cobalt / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D003800:Dental Technicians; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009532:Nickel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry; D013548:Sweden
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D002857:Chromium; D003035:Cobalt; D009532:Nickel
keywords: acid wipe sampling; air exposure; chromium; cobalt; nickel; skin dose; urine