Nickel

Classification:

Ni is a chemical element.

Cas:

7440-02-0

Synonyms/Trade Names:

C.I. 77775, Ni 270, Nickel 270, Nickel Particles, Nickel Sponge, Ni 0901-S, Ni 4303T, NP 2, Raney Alloy, Raney Nickel.

Chemistry/Composition:

Nickel is a member of the iron group.

Structure:

Cubic face centered.

Crystallographic Constants:

3.5238 3.5328 3.5328 90.000 90.000 90.000.

Crystal Group:

Cubic.

Color:

Silver-white.

Optical Properties:

Opaque.

Pleochroism:

None.

Powder Diagram:

2.03 1.76 1.25 1.06 (4-850).

Natural Sources:

Mined in Canada (Ontario), Cuba, Norway, and Russia.

Medical Importance:

Key Hazards:

Fibrogenic, carcinogenic.

Involved Organs:

Lung, upper respiratory tract.

Exposure/Epidemiology:

Exposure may occur in mining, metallurgy, and in chemical industry. It is used in electrical batteries, pigments, as a catalyst, and electroplating. World production of nickel was 778×103 tons in 1977.

Thresholds:

 TWA STEL
mg/m3 mg/m3
Australia 1
Belgium 1
Czechoslovakia 0.05 0.25
Denmark 0.5
Finland 1
France 1 1 to 4
Germany (TRK) dust 0.5, aerosol 0.05
Great Britain 1
Russia 0.05
Hungary 0.005
Japan 1
Poland
Sweden 0.5
Switzerland 0.5
United States: ACGIH 1
United States: NIOSH/OSHA 1
Germany:EKA: Ni in air Ni in urine
µg/m3 µg/l
1003 15
3003 30
5003 45

Etiology/Pathophysiology:

Ni is an essential element. The normal daily intake measures 300-600 µg/day. After gastrointestinal absorption, about 95% of Ni are eliminated via the feces. Sweating may decrease the Ni serum level. Its biologic half-time is up to 11 hours. If inhaled and absorbed, it is eliminated up to 90% via the urine with a half-time of 1.5 days. The secretion time increases if the Ni containing molecules are not or weakly water-soluble. Type I and type III hypersensitivity reactions have been described.

Lung Diseases:

Ni can induce lung cancer, interstitial fibrosis, nasal cancer, and possibly laryngeal cancer, as well as pneumonia, dermatitis, and an acute intoxication. Occasionally, bronchial asthma has been described. Lung cancer resembles a latency period of 20 to 30 years.

Clinical Presentation:

Ni can induce irritation of nasal mucosa, anosmia, and septum perforation. Symptoms include chronic cough, shortness of breath, and attacks of dyspnea; however, most patients have no complaints until the development of cancer. In acute intoxication with Ni-carbonylmolecules, headache, nausea, vomiting, and dyspnea occur.

Radiology:

Chest radiographs display findings related to size and localization of lung cancer, or mild interstitial densities.

Lung Function:

Usually normal findings until the development of cancer.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage:

Usually normal findings; in cancer patients, atypical cells and an increased number of inflammatory cells.

Pathology:

Gross:

The lungs are of normal color and consistency, or display findings related to lung cancer.

Histology:

The alveoli can contain an increased number of macrophages, the interalveolar septae can be widened and fibrotic; in addition, malignant cells of all bronchial carcinoma cell types with preference to epidermoid carcinoma may be present.

Prognosis:

Fair, as patients have an increased risk for lung cancer and nasal cancer.

Additional Diseases:

Upper Respiratory Tract:

Cancer of the nose.

Mesothelioma:

Intraperitoneal application of nickel can induce mesothelioma in animal experiments (rats).

Skin:

Chronic exposure can induce a Ni-associated dermatitis.

References:

search Pubmed for Nickel


Anderssen I, Stevens KB: Determination of nickel in lung specimens of thirty-nine autopsied nickel workers. Int Arch Occup Health 61 (1989) 289-295
Angerer J, Lehnert G: Occupational chronic exposure to metals. Int Arch Occup Health 62 (1990) 7-10
Arndt R, Fröhlich N, Lehmann E: Nickelbelastungen beim Schleifen nickelhaltiger Legierungen. Zbl Arbeitsmed 34 (1984) 138-143
Block GT, Yeung M: Asthma induced by nickel. JAMA 247 (1982) 1600-1602
Blot WJ: Lung cancer and occupational exposures. In: M Mizell, P Correa (Eds): Lung cancer: causes and prevention. Verlag Chemie Int, Weinheim (1984) 47-64
Brakhnova IT: Studies in soviet science: Environmental hazards of metals. Consultants Bureau, New York (1975)
Dolovich J, Evans SL, Nieboer E: Occupational asthma from nickel sensitivity: human serum albumin in the antigenic determinant. Br J Ind Med 41 (1984) 51-63
Edelman DA, Roggli VL: The accumulation of nickel in human lungs. Environ Health Perspect 81 (1989) 221-224
Gibbs AR: Role of asbestos and other fibers in the development of diffuse malignant mesothelioma. Thorax 45 (1990) 649-654
Goldberg M, Goldberg P, Leclerc A, Chastang JF, Brodeur JM, Segnan N, Floch JJ, Michel G: Epidemiology of respiratory cancers related to nickel mining and refining in New Caledonia (1978-1984). Int J Cancer 40 (1987) 300-304
IARC: Cancer: causes, occurrence and control. IARC Sci Publ 100 (1990)
IARC: Overall evaluations of carcinogenicity: an updating of IARC monographs volumes 1 to 42. IARC Mono Eval Carcinog Risk Human Suppl 7 (1987)
International Committee on Nickel Carcinogenesis in Man: Report of the international committee on nickel carcinogenesis in man. Scand J Work Environ Health 16 (1990) 1-82
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Kayser K: Analytical Lung Pathology. Springer, Heidelberg, New York (1992)
Kittle CF: Mesothelioma: diagnosis and management. Year Book Medical Publishers, Chicago, London (1987)
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Malo JL, Cartier A, Gagnon G, Evans S, Dolovich J: Isolated late asthmatic reaction due to nickel sulphate without antibodies to nickel. Clin Allergy 15 (1985) 95-99
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Norseth T: Nickel. In: L Friberg, GN Nordberg, VB Vouk (Eds): Handbook on the toxicology of metals. Elsevier, Amsterdam, New York (1990)
O’Hollaren MT: Asthma due to metals and metal salts. In: EJ Bardana, A Montanaro, MT O’Hollaren (Eds): Occupational asthma. Hanley & Belfus, Philadelphia (1992)
Pedersen E, Hoggetveit AC, Andersen A: Cancer of respiratory organs among workers at a nickel refinery in Norway. Int J Cancer 12 (1973) 32-41
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Reger RB, Morgan WKC: Respiratory cancers in mining. Occup Med 8(1) (1993) 185-204
Reichel G: Auf anorganische Stäube mit geringem oder fehlendem Quarzgehalt zurückgehende Lungenveränderungen. In: WT Ulmer (Ed): Handbuch der inneren Medizin, Bd IV: Pneumokoniosen. Springer, Heidelberg (1978) 468-508
Roberts RS, Julian JA, Muir DC, Shannon HS: A study of mortality in workers engaged in the mining, smelting, and refining of nickel. Toxicol Ind Health 5 (1989) 975-993
Rom WN (Ed): Occupational and environmental medicine. Little, Brown and Comp, Boston (1983) Shannon HS, Julian JA, Roberts RS: A mortality study of 11,500 nickel workers. J Natl Cancer Inst 73 (1984) 1251-1258
Shannon HS, Walsh C, Jadon N, Julian JA, Weglo JK, Thornhill PG, Cecutti AG: Mortality of 11,500 nickel workers-extended follow up and relationship to environmental conditions. Toxicol Ind Health 7 (1991) 277-294
Sunderman FW Jr, Morgan LG, Andersen A, Ashley D, Forouhar FA: HistoPathology of sinunasal and lung cancers in nickel refinery workers. Ann Clin Lab Sci 19 (1989) 44-50
Verma DK, Julian JA, Roberts RS, Muir DC, Jadon N, Shaw DS: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): a possible cause of lung cancer mortality among nickel/copper smelter and refinery workers. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 53 (1992) 317-324
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