The Sixth International Nickel Conference on Ecologic, Toxicologic and Human Health Issues Associated with the Mining, Refining and Production of Nickel and Companion Elements (Nickel 2002)

This issue features selected papers presented at the Nickel 2002 Conference held in Murmansk, Russia, September 1–6, 2002. The first four Nickel Conferences emphasized nickel metabolism and toxicology and were held in Kristiansand, Norway (1978), Swansea, Wales, UK (1980), Paris, France (1984) and Helsinki, Finland (1988). All four meetings included a day visit to a nickel refinery. An important feature was added for the Fifth Conference, held in 1992 in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, in that the scope of the conference was expanded to include the environmental impact (and its remediation) of nickel refining. This initiative was continued for the Nickel 2002 meeting as Murmansk is located near the towns of Nikel, Zapolyarniy, and Monchegorsk where mining, primary refining or secondary refining of nickel are carried out. A day visit to the Monchegorsk operation indicated that the environmental degradation was somewhat less severe than that which occurred in Sudbury in the 1960s and early 1970s. Institutional sponsors were: Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme, AMAP (Oslo, Norway); Elliot Lake Field Research Station (Elliot Lake, ON, Canada); Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tromsø (Norway); Kola Research Laboratory for Occupational Health (Kirovsk, Russia); Laurentian University (Sudbury, ON, Canada); McMaster University (Hamilton, ON, Canada); Murmansk County (Murmansk, Russia); National Institute of Occupational Health (Oslo, Norway); Northwest Public Health Research Center (St. Petersburg, Russia); and the Russian Federation Ministry of Health (Moscow, Russia).

The aim of the Nickel 2002 Conference was to facilitate interdisciplinary and intersector discussion about recent advances in research focused on the environmental and human health impacts of the mining, refining, and production of nickel and associated elements. The latter include cobalt, copper, the metalloids arsenic, selenium and tellurium, and precious metals such as palladium and platinum. The environmental and health impacts discussed included the effects of both metals and sulfur dioxide. The papers presented dealt with the following subjects: environmental toxicity and related ecologic issues such as pathways, tolerance, environmental monitoring (all media), biological monitoring (all matrices), revegetation and rehabilitation of contaminated sites; workplace exposure assessment, including aerosol speciation studies; analytical methods and monitoring equipment; epidemiological studies of worker health (e.g., allergy, heart disease, cancer and reproductive outcomes) and of the general population; laboratory based studies of acute toxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, and immunotoxicity; and risk assessment and regulatory issues pertaining to environmental and human health. A specific objective was to share proven remediation technologies for soil, wetlands and lakes, and this was achieved.

At the opening ceremonies greetings were presented on behalf of the local host organizations (The Governor's Office, Murmansk County; the Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company, and the Russian Federation Ministry of Health). The scientific program consisted of 7 plenary sessions, with 42 invited speakers. The poster sessions mirrored the topics of the plenary lectures and were organized by 5 themes: experimental toxicology and related issues; occupational health and hygiene issues; biological monitoring, environmental health and reproductive health; environmental impact-1: air, soils, and water; environmental impact-2: plants, fish and other biota. In recognition of special life-time contributions, achievement awards were presented for Nickel Epidemiology (Aage Andersen, The Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway), Nickel Toxicology (Tor Norseth, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway) and Occupational and Environmental Health (Nikolai F. Izmerov, Scientific Research Institute of Occupational Medicine, Russian Medical Academy, Moscow, Russia; presented in his absence). Details of their work and specialties are provided in the news section of this issue (Norseth and Izmerov) or as a full scientific paper (Andersen).

The 110 registered participants represented 13 countries and 5 continents. For many it was the first visit to Russia, and most non-Russian delegates did not know what to expect coming to this isolated arctic region of western Europe. Murmansk is a busy, all-year-round port city of 450 000 inhabitants and is the administrative center for the Kola Peninsula. The conference trip to Monchegorsk illustrated the natural rugged beauty of this region, as well as the devastating impact that metal refining can have. We were blessed with good accommodation and conference facilities. All appreciated the hospitality extended to us by our hosts. The conference dinner captured the warmth, humour, and spirited nature of our Russian colleagues. Who can forget the lively entertainment by the local folk dancers? Our scientific objectives were also met.

The organizing committee gratefully acknowledges financial assistance from the following organizations: Cerro Matoso (Córdoba, Columbia); the Barents Secretariat (Kirkenes, Norway); Falconbridge Limited (Sudbury and Toronto, ON, Canada); Inco Limited (Sudbury and Toronto, ON, Canada); Jacques Whitford Consulting (Markham, ON, Canada); Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company (Monchegorsk, Russia); McMaster Institute of Environment and Health (Hamilton, ON Canada); The Nickel Producers Environmental Research Association, NiPERA (Durham, North Carolina, USA); Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy (Toronto, ON, Canada); Outokumpu Oy (Helsinki, Finland); Shimadzu Company (Duisburg, Germany); and The Regional Municipality of Niagara Public Health Department (St. Catharines, ON, Canada)

Plans have been set in motion to hold the Seventh Nickel Conference in 3 or 4 years, perhaps in Australia.

 

Evert Nieboer

McMaster University

Hamilton, ON, Canada

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