Abstract
Nickel (Ni) compounds and metallic Ni have many industrial and commercial applications, including their use in the manufacturing of stainless steel. Due to the specific toxicological properties of the different Ni species, there is a growing interest about the availability of analytical methods that allow specific risk assessment, particularly related to exposure to the Ni species classified as carcinogenic. In this paper, we described a speciation method of inorganic Ni compounds in airborne particulate matter, based on selective sequential extractions. The analytical method described in this paper allows the determination of soluble, sulfidic, metallic, and oxide Ni by a simple sequential extraction procedure and determination by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy using small volumes of solutions and without long evaporation phases. The method has been initially set up on standard laboratory mixtures of known concentrations of different Ni salts. Then it has then been tested on airborne particulate matter (powder and filters) collected in different workstations of a large stainless steel production facility. The method has occurred effectively in the comparison of the obtained results with occupational exposure limit values set by the main international scientific and regulatory agencies for occupational safety and health, in order to prevent both toxic and carcinogenic effects in humans.
Highlights
Nickel (Ni) compounds and metallic Ni have many industrial and commercial applications, including their use in stainless steel production, in a large series of metal alloys, as catalysts, in batteries, pigments, and ceramics [1]
An industrial sector in which Ni exposure can be relevant is the production of special stainless steel in secondary steel foundries: the workers engaged in this industry are potentially exposed to various forms of airborne Ni, in particular during the operations of melting and casting and at all the stages of the process characterized by the need for high temperatures [2, 3]
The mixture of Ni compounds was prepared by several salts: Ni(II) sulfate hexahydrate
Summary
Nickel (Ni) compounds and metallic Ni have many industrial and commercial applications, including their use in stainless steel production, in a large series of metal alloys, as catalysts, in batteries, pigments, and ceramics [1]. An industrial sector in which Ni exposure can be relevant is the production of special stainless steel in secondary steel foundries: the workers engaged in this industry are potentially exposed to various forms of airborne Ni, in particular during the operations of melting and casting and at all the stages of the process characterized by the need for high temperatures [2, 3]. This kind of production has been widespread for decades in northern Italy, involving thousands of workers and arousing high interest on the related occupational and public health issues. There is no evidence that exposure to metallic Ni increases the risk of respiratory
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