New views on the hypothesis of respiratory cancer risk from soluble nickel exposure; and reconsideration of this risk's historical sources in nickel refineries

Table 8 Relative exposure to nickel species [%] predicted by ICNCM (1990) [3] and Grimsrud et al. (2000) [5] JEMs for a hypothetical KNR worker with 10 years of continuous postwar employment by time period & job category ^a

		Nickel exposure fractions by species [%]
		ICNCM (1990)				Grimsrud et al. (2000)
Category of work	Time period	Metallic	Oxidic	Sulphidic	Soluble	Metallic	Oxidic	Sulphidic	Soluble
Roasting (day workers)	1946–1955	3	94	3	0	3	72	15	10
	1956–1965	5	89	5	0	3	72	15	10
	1966–1975	5	89	5	0	3	72	15	10
	1976–1985	4	78	19	0	2	76	10	12
Old smelter bldg. no. 1 (day workers)	1946–1955	11	86	3	0	15	70	4	10
	1956–1965	20	76	5	0	18	68	4	10
	1966–1975	18	44	39	0	18	68	4	10
Calcining, smelting	1946–1955	0	94	6	0	1	84	5	10
	1956–1965	0	94	6	0	1	84	5	10
	1966–1975	0	94	6	0	1	84	5	10
	1976–1985	0	81	19	0	1	78	10	11
Nickel electrolysis	1946–1955	0	16	16	68	1	8	5	86
	1956–1965	0	16	16	68	1	8	5	86
	1966–1975	0	16	16	68	1	8	5	86
	1976–1985	0	10	10	81	2	10	4	84
Copper leaching	1946–1955	0	50	0	50	1	49	1	49
	1956–1965	0	50	0	50	1	49	1	49
	1966–1975	NA	NA	NA	NA	1	49	1	49
	1976–1985	NA	NA	NA	NA	1	49	1	49
Copper cementation	1946–1955	33	33	0	33	45	5	5	45
	1956–1965	33	33	0	33	45	5	5	45
	1966–1975	33	33	0	33	45	5	5	45

^a Percentages are calculated for each group of nickel exposures shown in Table 7, identified by species, category of work, time period and ICNCM (1990) [3] or Grimsrud et al. (2000) [5] study. Data may not sum to 100 due to rounding error. NA: Not Applicable.

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