Analysis of cadmium, arsenic, mercury, lead, nickel and speciated organometallic compounds in the edible flesh of Tilapia guineensis, Sarotherodon melanotheron and mullet (Liza falcipinnis) found in Choba river (New Calabar River), Rivers State, Nigeria.

The edible flesh of guinean tilapia (Tilapia guineensis), blackchin tilapia (Sarotherondon melanotheron) and mullet (Liza falcipinnis) were collected from Choba river for elemental studies of cadmium, mercury, arsenic, lead, nickel and speciated forms of elements using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) respectively. The highest concentration of cadmium (4.3mg/kg) was observed in Sarotherodon melanotheron. They all contained about the same concentration of arsenic (0.5mg/kg) and mercury (1mg/kg). The highest concentration of lead was detected in mullet (1.7mg/kg) while the highest concentration of nickel (7.3mg/kg) was detected in Sarotherodon melanotheron. The organometallic compounds detected were nickel tetracarbonyl, borane carbonyl in Tilapia guineensis, nickel tetracarbonyl, borane carbonyl and germanium(iv) pthalocyanine dichloride in Sarotherodon melanotheron and [µ-(ƞ6-benzene)]bis(ƞ5-2,4-cyclopentadien-yl)di-µ-hydrodi-vanadium and borane carbonyl in mullet

IMPACT OF WORKING CONDITIONS ON THE HEALTH OF WORKERS EMPLOYED IN NICKEL CARBONYL REFINING

A method of nickel carbonyl refining is known to be associated with an increased risk of acute and chronic nickel tetracarbonyl (TKN) intoxication. The purpose of the study was to examine the features of the influence of working conditions and, above all, TKN aerosols on the development of general and occupational pathology in nickel carbonyl production workers. In today’s nickel carbonyl refining TK is established to have a predominant influence on the development of chronic bronchopulmonary diseases, the most common of which are chronic bronchitis (11.5% of employees) and toxic pulmonary fibrosis (11.2% of employees). In the last 10 years there were no recorded cases of previously observed extra pulmonary diseases associated with toxic TKN effects (cardiomyopathy, hepatitis, encephalopathy). However, the employees engaged in nickel carbonyl refining continue to experience an increased risk of developing occupational diseases as compared to both electrolytic nickel production workers (RR = 2.13; CI 1.65-2.75), and auxiliary facilities workers (RR = 5.26; CI 3.17-8.21). Occupational diseases found in workers of all major specialties, reduced the duration of their active working life almost by 10 years. The conclusion is made about the need for an integrated approach to solve the problem of preservation of carbonyl production worker′s health which includes better working conditions, improved personal protective equipment from the effects of harmful factors, development of medical methods for early diagnosis and prevention of health disorders in this group of workers.