Toxicology Update
Note: The Toxicology Update represents a brief review of an often extensive literature base. Only some of the directly related references may be included.
NICKEL AND SOME NICKEL
Vapor pressure: nickel carbonyl is acquired, it can be aggravated by the diet and is apparently not lost. 9 COMPOUNDS highly volatile. Other nickel compounds are not volatile. Viscosity: not available but nickel car-Ingestion Due to low absorption from Synonyms: Nickel powder. bonyl is a mobile liquid at 20Β°C. the gastrointestinal tract, nickel com-CAS No.: 7440-02-0. (References: 1-4). pounds have a relatively low order of Atomic mass: 58.7 amu (elemental toxicity when administered by the oral form). route. Limited human data are available Boiling point: 2730Β°C for the elemen-Composition regarding adverse health effects associatal form. Nickel comes in four oxidation states; ted with the ingestion of nickel and Color: Silvery metal; dark gray crystals 0, Ο©1, Ο©2 and Ο©3. The metal is found nickel compounds. The only fatality by or green powders. Nickel carbonyl is as sulfide or oxide ores, 5 which undergo nickel via the oral route was reported colorless to yellow below 43Β°C. flotation, roasting and smelting to pro-by Daldrup et al. 12 A two-and-a-half-Conversion factor: 1 ppm = 2.4 mg m Οͺ3 duce a 'matte' that is composed of 15% year-old girl ingested 15 g of nickel (elemental form). nickel. This matte is treated to selec-sulfate crystals, exhibited pulmonary Dot designation: Combustible/irritant. tively oxidize iron sulfide to produce a rhonchi and died of cardiac arrest. Flammable limits: Crystals or powders material that contains about 50% nickel. In another episode, 32 workers in an are pyrophoric; flammable as a dust or A final electrolysis increases the purity electroplating plant accidentally drank fume; fires involving nickel compounds of the nickel material. High-purity water contaminated with nickel sulfate may release toxic nickel carbonyl. nickel is also produced from nickel car-and nickel chloride, with a total nickel Henry's law constant: Unknown. bonyl. Nickel carbonyl is a volatile, col-content of 1.63 g L Οͺ1 . Twenty workers Melting point: 1455Β°C for the elemenorless liquid with a boiling point of promptly developed nausea, vomiting, tal form. 43Β°C and decomposes at temperatures abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, giddi-Molecular formula: Ni = element; above 50Β°C. Heating nickel carbonyl ness, lassitude, headache, cough and Ni(CO) 4 = nickel carbonyl; NiCl 2 = forms a high-purity nickel and releases shortness of breath, which lasted from nickel chloride; Ni 11 As 8 or Ni 5 As 2 = carbon monoxide. 6 a few hours to several days. It was nickel subarsenide; Ni 3 S 2 = nickel subestimated that the workers drank sulfide; NiAsS = nickel sulfarsenide; between 0.5 and 2.5 g of nickel. Serum NiSO 4 = nickel sulfate; NiO = green Uses concentrations of Ni were 13-1340 g nickel oxide; Ni 2 O 3 = black nickel l Οͺ1 and urine concentrations ranged About 40% of the nickel produced is oxide. from 0.15 to 12 mg g Οͺ1 creatinine. used in the manufacture of steel and Odor: Odorless (elemental form); musty Induced diuresis shortened the eliminother alloys. Coins and kitchen utensils odor for nickel carbonyl. ation half-time to 27 h compared to the are common items that use nickel alloys. Solubility: The acetate, nitrate and sulfnon-induced group's elimination half-About 20% of the nickel produced, in ate salts and halogen salts are all soluble time of 60 h. All the subjects recovered the form of nickel sulfate, is used in in water. In aqueous solutions, the and returned to work within 8 days. 13 electroplating, and nickel hydroxide is nickel exists primarily as the green used in the manufacture of nickel cadhexaquonickel [Ni(H 2 O) 6 ] 2Ο© ion. The mium batteries. Nickel carbonate is used Inhalation The acute toxicity from oxides, hydroxides (Ni(OH) 2 ), subsulin electronic components such as vac-exposure to nickel by inhalation fide, sulfides, carbonates, phosphate uum tubes and transistors. 6 includes headache, sore throat, hoarse-(Ni 3 (PO 4 ) 2 ) and elemental forms are ness and a non-productive cough. This insoluble in water. Bimetallic commay be followed by tightness in the pounds of nickel are also insoluble in Acute toxicity chest, dyspnea and retrosternal pain. water (e.g. NiTiO 3 , NiAs, Ni 3 (AsO 4 ) 2 , Late effects could include pulmonary NiSb, NiCrO 4 ) K ow is unknown. The Many nickel compounds are not conedema and interstitial fibrosis. 10 Nickel black Ni 2 O 3 is chemically reactive and sidered to be very toxic on the basis of carbonyl is the most acutely toxic nickel readily forms a salt on contact with acute oral exposures in rats, as can be compound. In some cases of accidental mineral acids. The green NiO is rela-seen in Table 1. Dogs are able to toleroccupational exposures, nephrotoxicity tively refractory to solubilization. The ate significantly greater doses of metwas manifested in the form of renal elemental form of nickel is considered allic nickel; as high as 3 g kg Οͺ1 body edema, hyperemia and parenchymatous to be insoluble in most solvents. Other wt. 7 Excessive exposure to nickel can degeneration. 14 compounds of nickel are soluble in alco-produce a variety of local effects but the only compound known to produce hols and acids to varying degrees. K oc is unknown. systemic effects is nickel carbonyl, 6
Eye contact Nickel and its compounds are considered irritating to the eye as Specific gravity: 8.9 for the elemental which has an acute lc 50 of 35 ppm in 30 min. 8 The predominant effect of form.
well as other mucous membranes. 15 Workers employed in nickel plating Vapor density: Nickel carbonyl is four exposure to nickel and its compounds is an allergic reaction. 9 It is estimated times heavier than air. Other nickel shops have reported developing conjunctivitis and sudden flood of tears compounds are found only as particu-that 5% of all eczemas are produced by nickel reactions. 10 Once sensitivity is late matter.
when the ventilation was poor. 16