Objective To study the carcinogenicity of industrial nickel dust in rats by inhalation study.
Methods Male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups:2 test groups were exposed to mineral dust at scintillation site and dust at smelt site respectively for 2 years; and 1 control group was raised at non-exposure area with normal feeding. Histopathological examinations were then carried out on the rats survived or died during the experiment.
Results A total of 4 cases of pulmonary tumors were induced in 2 test groups:1 pulmonary adenocarcinoma case in mineral dust group (positive rate was 14.3%); 2 pulmonary adenocarcinoma cases and 1 pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma case in smelt dust group (positive rate was 42.9%). The average latency period for lung cancer was 20.5 months.
Conclusion Industrial nickel dust in smelting workshops may be carcinogenic to rat, and that in ore scintillation workshops may possess weaker carcinogenic activity.
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