A Prospective Study of Blood Levels of Nickel and its Adverse Health Effects on Workers Employed in Brass Manufacturing Units of Moradabad District in Uttar Pradesh, India Saeed Saadiya1,*, Abbas Hashim2, Husain Munawwar3, Saeed Saadiya1 1Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh., U.P. India 2Sr. Resident, Department of Forensic Medicine, Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh., U.P. India 3Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh., U.P. India *Corresponding author: Dr. Saadiya Saeed, Associate Professor, The Department of Forensic Medicine, Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College, A.M.U., Aligarh. U.P., India, Pin 202002. Email: Prof. mh.raza@gmail.com
Online published on 27 November, 2019. Abstract Nickel is a silvery white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. The use of Nickel has been traced back to 3500 B.C., but it was first isolated and classified as a chemical element in 1751 by Axel Fredrik Cronstedt. The metal is corrosion-resistant used for manufacturing of coins, magnets and common house hold utensils. The workers in the manufacturing units of brass are exposed to high levels of Nickel which can result in large number of adverse health effects. The present study was conducted in Moradabad district which is home to a large number of brass manufacturing units. The study group included 100 persons employed in brass industry. 20 persons not working in brass industry but residing in the neighborhood of brass manufacturing units were included as controls. A questionnaire was prepared and given to the interviewer to record health effects of the persons included in the study. 5 ml of blood was collected and serum levels of Nickel were estimated by using Atomic absorption spectrophotometer. It was found that average serum Nickel level was 0.0315 + 0.007 in the control group. In the study group, there were higher levels of Nickel in all age groups and also in those with different periods of exposure. This difference between the study and control groups was statistically significant. Persons working in brass industry also had a large number of adverse health effects, however the magnitude of the health problem was not quantified. Preventive measures against Nickel toxicity were recommended by the authors. Top Keywords Brass industry, occupational diseases, Nickel toxicity, Atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Top |