Abstract
Nickel, in the form of various alloys and compounds, has been in widespread commercial use for over 100 years. Several million workers worldwide are exposed to airborne fumes, dust, and mist containing nickel and its compounds. Further, exposures by inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact occur in nickel-producing industries, like mining, milling, melting, and refining, and in nickel-using industries, like electroplating, welding, and grinding. Insoluble nickel is the predominant exposure in nickel-producing industries, whereas soluble nickel is the predominant exposure in nickel-using industries like the ceramics industry. This study was designed to extrapolate the levels of serum nickel, antioxidant compounds, and stress markers and correlate them with lung function status in craft workers in the ceramics industry. The study included 50 fiber craft workers from the ceramics industry who met the inclusion criteria. The control group consisted of subjects from the general population with no disease. Blood samples from the workers were collected by a phlebotomist. The levels of nickel and biological antioxidants, i.e. serum glutathione (GSH) and stress marker malondialdehye (MDA), were determined. Estimation of oxidants and haptoglobin (Hp) levels were assessed. The level of nickel was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A spirometer was used to measure lung functions. The calculated levels of these parameters were compared with those in the control subjects. An overall increase in nickel and MDA levels and a decrease in GSH level were observed. When these workers were classified into groups, it was observed that prolonged employment in the ceramics industry was associated with an increased nickel concentration in the serum, which in turn increased oxidative stress biomarkers and thus decreased the antioxidant levels to the lower limit. The decrease in GSH level compromises lung function. Our findings of an increase the Hp level is noteworthy, as it increased by 89% in the group with over 10 years of service in the industry compared with the group working for less than 5 years. Prolonged exposure of nickel increases the oxidative stress, in terms of increased MDA level and decreased GSH level. These findings can compromise the lung function and increase the Hp level.
Highlights
The health hazards associated with manmade fibers have been documented
Like cough, headache is proportionally low, alarming symptom in most workers was cough which clearly implicates the inhalation of toxic substance in the ceramic industry
There was a moderate increase in the MDA and nickel levels in the workers (56% and 53%, respectively), in relation to the control subjects
Summary
The health hazards associated with manmade fibers have been documented. For example, fiberglass and asbestos fibers may cause respiratory problems like asthma, pneumonia, and lung cancer [1, 2].Nickel is a strong, lustrous, silvery-white metal that is a staple in our daily lives and can be found in a plethora of products, from the batteries that power television remotes to the stainless steel used to make kitchen sinks. The health hazards associated with manmade fibers have been documented. Fiberglass and asbestos fibers may cause respiratory problems like asthma, pneumonia, and lung cancer [1, 2]. Lustrous, silvery-white metal that is a staple in our daily lives and can be found in a plethora of products, from the batteries that power television remotes to the stainless steel used to make kitchen sinks. Wide range of nickel applications is increasing on a daily basis. Nickel is a suitable element that can be combined with other elements to form alloys of various types, conferring them with heat and corrosion resistance and, above all, increasing their strength [3, 4].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
