Exposure in welding of high nickel alloy.

Nickel (Ni) levels in air during welding of high-Ni alloy (75% Ni) were very high (mean 0.44 mg/m3, range 0.07-1.1 mg/m3; 20 person-days of measurements). In six welders the Ni level in urine after four weeks of vacation was slightly but statistically significantly enhanced as compared to ten unexposed controls (means 8.7 vs 5.1 micrograms/l; P less than 0.005). The level on Monday mornings increased somewhat during a period of six weeks of high-Ni alloy welding (mean 13 micrograms/l; P less than 0.05). The level was slightly higher Thursday afternoon (mean 18 micrograms/l; P less than 0.0001). The data indicate the existence of a very slow pool of Ni in the body in addition to a faster one. There was no correlation between Ni levels in air and urine. Thus, in spite of the very high Ni levels in air, urinary Ni levels were thus of little use for biological monitoring of exposure and risk during high-Ni alloy welding. All eleven welders studied reported one or more symptoms (irritation of upper airways, headache, tiredness) as occurring more often (P less than 0.006) during high-Ni welding than when welding ordinary stainless steel. Lung-functions studies were normal.