HUMAN NICKEL EXPOSURE IN AN AREA POLLUTED BY NICKEL REFINING - THE SOR-VARANGER STUDY

Sor-Varanger municipality in northern Norway is located close to two R ussian nickel refineries that cause nickel and sulfur dioxide pollutio n. To investigate individual nickel exposure and possible health effec ts from the pollution, the authors invited all adults who were 18-69 y of age to a health survey in 1994. Urine samples were collected from 3 671 participants (participation rate = 59.4%), and nickel concentrat ions were determined for 902 of them. Mean and median nickel concentra tions were 0.9 mu g/l and 0.6 mu g/l, respectively. Individuals who li ved in the rural areas closest to the refineries had lower nickel conc entrations than individuals who lived in the more urban areas. Indepen dent risk factors for nickel concentrations in urine were (a) being an urban dweller and (b) living close to areas with high-density traffic . The authors concluded that nickel exposure attributable to air pollu tion from Russian refineries was of minor importance for people who li ved in Sor-Varanger.