Toxicity Profiles

RAGs A Format for Nickel and Compounds - CAS Number 83329

Nickel is a very abundant element in the environment. It is found primarily combined with oxygen (oxides) or sulfur (sulfides), found in all soils, and is emitted from volcanos. Pure nickel is a hard, silvery-white metal that is combined with other metals to form mixtures called alloys. Some of the metals that nickel can be alloyed with are iron, copper, chromium, and zinc. These alloys are used to make metal coins and jewelry and in industry. Nickel compounds are also used for nickel plating, to color ceramics, to make some batteries, and as substances known as catalysts that increase the rate of chemical reactions. Nickel and its compounds have no characteristic odor or taste. Nickel forms included in this profile are: Nickel carbonyl, CAS number 13463-39-3; Nickel refinery dust, no CAS number; Nickel subsulfide, CAS number 12035-72-2; and Nickel soluble salts, no CAS number.

Nickel is required to maintain health in animals. A small amount of nickel is probably essential for humans, although a lack of nickel has not been found to affect the health of humans. The absorption of nickel is dependent on its physicochemical form, with water soluble forms being more readily absorbed. The most common adverse health effect of nickel in humans is an allergic reaction. Humans can become sensitive to nickel when jewelry or other nickel-containing items are in direct contact with the skin. Once a person is sensitized to nickel, further contact will produce a reaction; the most common reaction is a skin rash at the site of contact. Less frequently, some humans who are sensitive to nickel have asthma attacks or other reactions following exposure to nickel in food, water, or dust. Lung effects, including chronic bronchitis and reduced lung function, have been observed in workers who breathed large amounts of nickel. Current levels of nickel in workplace air are much lower than in the past, and today few workers show symptoms of nickel exposure. Humans who are not sensitive to it must eat very large amounts of nickel to show adverse health effects. In large doses (>0.5 g), some forms of nickel may be acutely toxic to humans when taken orally. Workers who accidentally drank water containing very high levels of nickel (100,000 times more than in normal drinking water) had stomachaches and effects on their blood and kidneys.

Epidemiologic studies have shown that occupational inhalation exposure to nickel dust (primarily nickel subsulfide) at refineries has resulted in increased incidences of pulmonary and nasal cancer. Inhalation studies using rats have also shown nickel subsulfide or nickel carbonyl to be carcinogenic. Based on these data, the EPA has classified nickel subsulfide and nickel refinery dust in weight-of-evidence group A, human carcinogen. Based on an increased incidence of pulmonary carcinomas and malignant tumors in animals exposed to nickel carbonyl by inhalation or by intravenous injection, this compound had been placed in weight-of-evidence group B2, probable human carcinogen. The U.S. EPA has not evaluated soluble salts of nickel as a class of compounds for potential human carcinogenicity.

The following is a presentation of the toxicity information associated with Nickel and Compounds.

Nickel Soluble Salts

Noncarcinogenic Health Effects
  • The Oral Chronic Reference Dose is 2.00E-02 (mg/kg-day).
  • The Oral Chronic Reference Dose has a modifying factor of 1.
  • The Oral Chronic Reference Dose has an uncertainty factor of 300.
  • The Oral Chronic Reference Dose is based on the Ambrose et al. study from 1976.
  • The Oral Chronic Reference Dose study critical effect is decreased body and organ weight.
  • The overall confidence in the Oral Chronic Reference Dose is medium.

  • The Dermal Chronic Reference Dose is 5.40E-03 (mg/kg-day).
  • The Dermal Chronic Reference Dose is based on a gastrointestinal absorption factor of 0.2700.

Nickel Refinery Dust

Carcinogenic Health Effects
  • The Inhalation Unit Risk is 2.4E-01 (mg/m3)-1.
  • The Inhalation Unit Risk study target organ is respiratory system.
  • The Inhalation Unit Risk study cancer type is tumors.
  • The Inhalation Unit Risk is based on the Clydach study from 1984.

Nickel Subsulfide

Carcinogenic Health Effects
  • The Inhalation Unit Risk is 4.8E-01 (mg/m3)-1.
  • The Inhalation Unit Risk study target organ is respiratory system.
  • The Inhalation Unit Risk study cancer type is tumors.
  • The Inhalation Unit Risk is based on the Clydach study from 1984.