Reconstruction of historical exposures at a Welsh nickel refinery (1953-2000).

Past epidemiological studies of workers in a nickel refinery in Clydach, Wales, have shown evidence of large excess respiratory cancer mortality risks [lung cancer relative risk (RR) ≈ 3; nasal cancer RR ≈ 140] in those employed prior to 1930, with risks dropping dramatically in workers hired subsequently. The pre-1930 risks have generally been attributed to high exposures to mixtures of nickel compounds. More recent studies of this refinery's workers have focused on those first hired in 1953, when many of the operations that presumably gave rise to the high exposures were no longer in operation.

Reconstruction of historical exposures in the US nickel alloy industry and the implications for carcinogenic hazard and risk assessments.

Recently, various regulatory authorities have been reexamining the potential carcinogenic hazards and risks associated with exposures to nickel and certain nickel compounds. In making their assessments, the authorities have focused on occupational cohorts at facilities where nickel-containing sulfidic ores were processed and where increased lung and nasal cancer risks were found in specific groups of workers. Little attention, however, has been paid to the vast number of workers in nickel-using industries, where no excess respiratory cancer risks have been observed.

Species-specific inhalable exposures in the nickel industry: a new approach for deriving inhalation occupational exposure limits.

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and some regulatory authorities have revised their exposure limits for nickel and nickel compounds in workplaces based upon new sampling standards for inhalable nickel exposures. Others may be in the process of doing so. Safe standards for workplace exposures should utilize the most up-to-date health data on individual nickel species and should incorporate the principles of new sampling conventions that have been developed over the recent decades.

Assessment of respiratory carcinogenicity associated with exposure to metallic nickel: a review.

Human studies prior to 1990 have shown an association between respiratory cancer and exposure to some nickel compounds, but not to metallic nickel. Numerous reviews have examined the nature of the association between nickel compounds and respiratory cancer, but little has been published on metallic nickel. This paper reviews the animal and human cancer-related data on metallic nickel to determine whether the conclusions regarding metallic nickel reached a decade ago still apply.