BIOLOGIC MONITORING OF CHROMIUM AND NICKEL AMONG STAINLESS-STEEL WELDERS USING THE MANUAL METAL ARC METHOD

Forty manual metal arc welders welding stainless steel (SS) were monit ored for 1-7 workdays measuring total chromium (Cr), water-soluble hex avalent Cr(VI), and nickel (Ni) in the working atmosphere, and Cr and Ni in blood and urine. The mean daily increase was 1.0 mug Cr/l in pla sma and 5.6 mug Cr/g creatinine in urine. There were significant corre lations between total Cr and Cr(VI) in air and the total Cr in biologi c fluids. This was not the case for the corresponding correlations for Ni. The observed correlations between urinary and plasma Cr levels ma y permit interchange of these body fluids for biologic monitoring at h igh exposures. The results indicate that urine sampled after work is a body fluid versatile for routine monitoring of Cr in SS welders. Smok ers had higher levels of Cr in biologic fluids than did nonsmokers at equivalent levels of air Cr(VI). The results also indicate that filter masks provide better protection against uptake of Cr in the airways t han air-stream helmets.