DETERMINATION OF EXPOSURE TO COBALT AND NICKEL IN THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE HARD METAL INDUSTRY
- 1 October 1992
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Annals of Occupational Hygiene
- Vol. 36 (5) , 497-507
- https://doi.org/10.1093/annhyg/36.5.497
Abstract
Cobalt and nickel, matrices of hard metal, have been shown to be respiratory sensitizers. Airborne dust at hard metal-grinding worksites in a factory with a work-force of about 180 grinders was analysed for cobalt and nickel. The electron-microscopic X-ray microanalysis of airborne dust particles demonstrated that they had the same metallic components as hard metal products. Andersen sampling revealed that 66% of total dust was respirable (−3, while 1.5% (two out of 133) were exposed to nickel concentrations of more than 50 μg m−3. A correlation between cobalt exposure concentrations and nickel concentrations for individuals was significant and positive. Further improvement of the working environment is necessary because of the hazard caused by exposure to cobalt and nickel.Keywords
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