Occupational asthma due to chrome and nickel electroplating

Abstract

Abstractchromate solution is helpful in making the specific diagnosis where doubt exists. Background -Exposure to chromium dur- (Thorax 1997;52:28-32) ing electroplating is a recognised though poorly characterised cause of occupational Keywords: occupational asthma, electroplating, asthma. The first series of such patients chrome, nickel, bronchial provocation testing. referred to a specialist occupational lung disease clinic is reported. Methods -The diagnosis of occupationalChromium is the major industrial contact allerasthma was made from a history of asthma gen that causes dermatitis 1 and is widely used with rest day improvement and confirmed in electroplating, dyes, leather tanning, and by specific bronchial provocation testing cement works. Single cases of asthma caused with potassium dichromate and nickel by chrome have been described since the ninechloride.teenth century and in the 1930s both Smith 2 Results -Seven workers had been exposed and Joules 3 reported chromium induced to chrome and nickel fumes from electro-asthma due to exposure at work. Since then plating for eight months to six years before there have been very few reports of respiratory asthma developed. One subject, although symptoms in workers associated with electroexposed for 11 years without symptoms, plating. developed asthma after a single severeElectroplating is the application of a metallic exposure during a ventilation failure. coating to articles using inorganic salts of metals This was the only subject who had never such as chromium or nickel. In the electrosmoked. The diagnosis was confirmed by plating process the gases released at the elecspecific bronchial challenges. Two workers trodes rise to the surface of the bath and genhad isolated immediate reactions, one a erate a fine aerosol. Nickel electroplating is late asthmatic reaction, and four a dual 95% efficient and gas generation is minimal response following exposure to nebulised whereas chromium electroplating is inefficient potassium dichromate at 1-10 mg/ml. Two and 80-90% of the total energy used may of the four subjects were also challenged be directed to the generation of potentially with nebulised nickel chloride at respirable aerosols of chromic acid. Epi-0.1-10 mg/ml. Two showed isolated late demiological studies have suggested increased asthmatic reactions, in one at 0.1 mg/ml, respiratory morbidity in electroplaters comwhere nickel was probably the primary pared with galvanisers that is related to exsensitising agent. Four workers carried out posure to chromium. 4 We report here our two hourly measurements of peak ex-experience with chromium induced asthma in piratory flow over days at and away workers referred to a specialist occupational from work. All were scored as having lung disease clinic over 10 years. occupational asthma using OASYS-2. Breathing zone air monitoring was carried out in 60 workers from four decorative Methods The Occupational Lung Disease Unit, and two hard chrome plating shops from Subjects were identified at a specialist oc-

Nickel Mobilizes Intracellular Zinc to Induce Metallothionein in Human Airway Epithelial Cells

“…Ni is a major component of ambient air particulate matter (1,35) that is associated with inappropriate immune responses (35,36), airway hyperresponsiveness (7,37), and increased cardiopulmonary disease (1). Mechanisms of action for inhaled Ni that are independent of its antigenicity remain poorly defined.…”

“…Ni is a common component of alloy metals and is used in electroplating, stainless steel, coins, and jewelry (4,6,7). Inhalation of Ni has been associated with lung and nasal cancers (5,(8)(9)(10), fibrosis, and various other cardiopulmonary diseases (1,5), including acute lung injury (4,11).…”

Hazardous air pollutants and asthma.

“…Common asthmagens identifiable by this method include metals such as cadmium (224,225), chromium (226,229), cobalt (230)(231)(232)(233), and nickel (234)(235)(236)(237)(238)(239) compounds. This method is aided by knowledge of the chemicals present in the workplace and the reversal of symptoms upon removal from the workplace.…”

Effect of nickel exposure on serum amylase activity in nickel-plating workers

“…Inhalation is the primary route of occupational exposure to metals [2]. The studies relating to occupational exposure to Ni during nickelplating process have shown that nasal toxicity [3], nickel dermatitis [4], allergic contact dermatitis and hand dermatitis [5][6][7], occupational asthma [8], mortality due to stomach cancer and lung cancer [9] and renal tubular dysfunction [10] have been observed in nickelplating workers. Exposure to Ni has been shown to result in an increased level of trypsin and a decreased level of carboxypeptidase B in the pancreatic tissue of animals [11].…”