30 Exposure to nickel in UK workplaces

Abstract Exposure to nickel in the workplace occurs in a wide number of occupational settings. Nickel compounds have been classified as a Group 1A carcinogen by IARC and are a known sensitiser. Metallic nickel is a suspected carcinogen with the IARC classification Group 2B. Therefore, it is vital that nickel exposure is kept to a minimum. The routes of exposure in a workplace can include inhalation, ingestion and dermal exposures and biological monitoring, predominantly as the determination of nickel in urine samples, is routinely used to assess exposure. However, there is no UK guidance value for nickel in urine to assist with interpretation of results. In this project, a current reference range for nickel was established in urine samples (n = 100) from unexposed persons. Trends in urinary nickel results from 1996 to 2023 were also investigated from UK workers from results contained within the HSE Biological Monitoring database. Analysis of the worker data shows that a reduction in exposure over the last decade has been observed, with a P90 level of 25.4 µmol/mol creatinine in 2014 (n = 502) compared to 13.7 µmol/mol creatinine in 2023 (n = 1,632). The aim of this data analysis is to group the different workplace types to better assess exposures across UK industry and to inform whether the decrease in urinary nickel levels is as a result of lower risk workplaces undertaking biological monitoring or whether controls in workplaces have been improving. All the analysis was undertaken using ICPMS and quality assurance ensured using both certified reference materials and participation in GEQAS.