title: Modelling of occupational exposure to inhalable nickel compounds.
abstract: The aim of this study was to estimate average occupational exposure to inhalable nickel (Ni) using the German exposure database MEGA. This database contains 8052 personal measurements of Ni collected between 1990 and 2009 in adjunct with information on the measurement and workplace conditions. The median of all Ni concentrations was 9 μg/m3and the 95th percentile was 460 μg/m3. We predicted geometric means (GMs) for welders and other occupations centered to 1999. Exposure to Ni in welders is strongly influenced by the welding process applied and the Ni content of the used welding materials. Welding with consumable electrodes of high Ni content (>30%) was associated with 10-fold higher concentrations compared with those with a low content (<5%). The highest exposure levels (GMs ≥20 μg/m3) were observed in gas metal and shielded metal arc welders using welding materials with high Ni content, in metal sprayers, grinders and forging-press operators, and in the manufacture of batteries and accumulators. The exposure profiles are useful for exposure assessment in epidemiologic studies as well as in industrial hygiene. Therefore, we recommend to collect additional exposure-specific information in addition to the job title in community-based studies when estimating the health risks of Ni exposure.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kendzia
authors.affiliation: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pesch
authors.affiliation: Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Sankt Augustin, Germany.
authors.forename: Dorothea
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koppisch
authors.affiliation: Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Sankt Augustin, Germany.
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van Gelder
authors.affiliation: Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Sankt Augustin, Germany.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pitzke
authors.affiliation: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zschiesche
authors.affiliation: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Behrens
authors.affiliation: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.affiliation: University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM) and School of Public Health, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Siemiatycki
authors.affiliation: University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM) and School of Public Health, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Jerome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lavoué
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry, and Epidemiology, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Karl-Heinz
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jöckel
authors.affiliation: Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Sankt Augustin, Germany.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stamm
authors.affiliation: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brüning
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D014896:Welding
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D009532:Nickel