Detection of nickel in nail samples of poultry farm workers

Nickel content in nail samples of male poultry farm workers involved in manual feeding operations was detected using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The nickel concentration in nail sample of poultry farm workers ranged from 0.53 to 6.10mg/l. Assessment of general health status of workers revealed that some workers had different kind of skin allergies and respiratory diseases like asthma due to unpredictable toxicity of nickel in their body owing to exposure to Ni during manual feeding operations.


Introduction
Due to rapid growth of economy and the sharp advanced trend lie in urbanization and industrial sector, the environmental concerns have become increasingly more important.So researchers are working on routes of exposure of heavy metals and of their toxicity.Great efforts are being made to mitigate the issues [1].Nickel is used as the raw material in production non-ferrous alloys, stainless steel and super alloys.Nickel salts are widely used in electroplating.Nickel is also used in batteries, coins, and electronic products [2].Nickel is largely used in manufacturing of household appliances [3].Other than these uses nickel is added in some food supplements and one tablet of these supplements may contain several micrograms of nickel [4].Major focus of poultry industry is to enhance the growth rate.Many of the metals are used in poultry feed well beyond the required amount to boost the weight of poultry animals [5].Poultry feed also have nickel as one of the ingredients used to boost weight of poultry animals, and as starter, developer and grower.A study was conducted in Saudi Arabia to determine Ni content in poultry feed samples and was found in high amounts ranging from 0.45 to

Materials and methods
General health care of worker (from whom nail samples were collected) was recorded through questionnaire.Nail samples were collected through random sampling method from workers working in different poultry farms.0.05g of nail samples was washed with nonionic detergent (TritonX-100) to remove dust particles following a standardized washing procedure [12].The nails were also soaked in acetone to remove external contamination.Samples were rinsed five times with deionized water and dried in oven.Dried nail samples were subjected to wet acid digestion with 10 ml of 6: 1 mixture of concentrated nitric and perchloric acid.The sample solutions were diluted with 0.1 N nitric acid.After dilution samples were filtered [11].Samples duplicate were tested on Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer using hollow cathode lamp of nickel.The values of standard solution, references, absorbance and concentration were noted.

Results and discussion
Through survey and questionnaire it was observed that most of the workers suffered from various health problems like blood pressure, stress, skin infections and respiratory diseases like asthma.The main cause of these diseases may be the exposure to Ni at work place.The feed of chickens contained Ni as ingredient.The source of exposure to Ni was through direct contact with Ni in feed during feeding operations.Mainly in open-side poultry house manual feeding operations was the possible way of exposure.In Environment controlled shed workers were also exposed to Ni in feed during first week of feeding operations of newly grown chickens.The health status of workers was not satisfactory.Beside the poor health and poverty, lack of education and awareness also results in ill and stress full life of workers.The results of the quantitative analysis of finger nails for Ni was recorded according to the age groups and years of exposure.The nickel concentration in nail sample of poultry farm workers ranged from 0.53 to 6.10mg/l.The Figure 1 presented the mean concentration of Ni in different age groups of poultry farm workers.The mean concentration of nickel in different age group recorded was as following: 1.61± 1.29mg/l for age group (15-25); 1.26± 0.67 mg/l for age group (26-35); 1.76 ±0.9 mg/l for age group (36-45) and 1.25±0.9mg/l for age group (46-55).

Figure 1. Comparison of Ni concentration in different age groups among poultry farm workers
Relationship between the operational years and concentration was also studied it was observed that the Concentration of Ni in operational year were as followed: 1-5year was 1.27 ± 0.8 mg/l; 6-10year was 1.95± 1.0 mg/l, 11-15year was 1.75± 1.27 mg/l and the operational year 16-20 the concentration of Ni was ranged from 3.68 ±2.17 mg/l.Nickel concentration in nail sample of poultry farm workers was above the reference value [12] given by Gammelgaard et al. (1991) for nickel concentration in nails that is 1.19±1.61μg/g (Figure 2).The concentration of Ni in workers that had been working for 16-20 years was more than that of 1-5 years.As mean concentration of Ni in operational years 16-20 was 3.68 ±1.25 beyond the reference value and 1-5 years was 1.27± 0.13 it was also greater than the reference value.From assessment of health status it was revealed that cough and shortness of breath was the common disease among workers.Exposure to Ni also causes nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, headache, cough and shortness of breath [13].It was also observed that workers developed some skin allergies on their hand and foot due to direct contact with nickel and absence of occupational health and safety programme in their work place.

Figure 2. Comparison between the operational year and concentration of Ni in poultry farm workers Conclusion
It was concluded from the study that in all age group the nickel concentration in nail samples was significantly high as compared to reference value.Direct relationship was found between the operational years of exposure and nickel concentration in nail samples.The workers were not aware of the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) as these help workers in avoiding many accidents, injuries and disease.Moreover also recommended workers to implement healthy and hygienic lifestyle by taking bath daily, washing their hands after every processing and cut nail to avoid contamination.Reduce exposure to nickel during working hours by appropriate use of PPE so that the health problems caused by Ni could be avoided.
Abbas, Performed the experiments: A Abbas, Analyzed the data: M Abbas & A Abbas, Contributed reagents/ materials/ analysis tools: A Zafar & S Nosheen, Wrote the paper: M Abbas & A Abbas.

10].
In typical diet only 1-10% of the ingested dietary Ni is absorbed; following absorption, Ni is transported in blood bound to serum albumin.Most of the absorbed Ni is by the kidneys linked to complexes with low molecular weight and it is also lost through sweat and bile.It is not accumulated by any tissue in the body.Relatively high Ni concentrations were found in the thyroid and adrenal glands in comparison to other tissues When nickel is ingested or absorbed through the skin, it is transported to in blood bound to serum albumin.Ni is then excreted by kidney and can also lose thorough sweat and bile.It is not accumulated in body tissues except adrenal and thyroid glands [