Uploaded March 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Nickel (Ni) is a naturally occurring element and millions of tons of it are mined each year across the globe. Pure nickel is a hard, silvery-white metal used to make stainless steel and other metal alloys.
The Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) reports that these alloys are used to make coins, jewelry and other items. Nickel can also be combined with other elements to form nickel compounds. Nickel compounds are used for nickel plating, to color ceramics, to make some batteries and as catalysts.
According to The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), workers may be harmed from exposure to nickel with the level of exposure depending upon the dose, duration and work being done. Some examples of workers NIOSH lists that are potentially at risk include:
• Refinery workers in nickel processing plants
• Jewelry and pawn shop workers who come in contact with nickel coins or jewelry
• Factory workers in plants where nickel alloys are used
• Workers who come in contact with tools and other nickel releasing surfaces
Anyone can be exposed by breathing dust containing it, through skin contact, or by consuming food or water that contains nickel. A common health effect of nickel exposure is an allergic reaction and approximately 10-20% of the population is sensitive to nickel according to the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry. The most common reaction is a skin rash at the site of contact, but the skin rash may also occur at a site away from the site of contact. Less frequently, some people who are sensitive to nickel have asthma attacks following exposure.
ATSDR also shares the fact that workers in nickel refineries or nickel-processing plants have experienced chronic bronchitis and reduced lung function by breathing elevated levels of it. Workers who have drank water containing high amounts of nickel have experienced stomach aches and suffered adverse effects to their blood and kidneys.
Cancers of the lung and nasal sinus have resulted when workers breathed dust containing high levels of nickel compounds while working in nickel refineries or nickel processing plants reports ATSDR. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that nickel metal may reasonably be anticipated to be a carcinogen and that nickel compounds are known human carcinogens. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that some nickel compounds are carcinogenic to humans and that metallic nickel may possibly be carcinogenic to humans. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that nickel refinery dust and nickel subsulfide are human carcinogens.
These are just a few things to know about nickel and potential exposure risks. To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, air quality, environmental, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown below.
Clark Seif Clark csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. emsl.com
LA Testing latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental zimmetry.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine healthyindoors.com
Nickel (Ni) is a naturally occurring element and millions of tons of it are mined each year across the globe. Pure nickel is a hard, silvery-white metal used to make stainless steel and other metal alloys.
The Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) reports that these alloys are used to make coins, jewelry and other items. Nickel can also be combined with other elements to form nickel compounds. Nickel compounds are used for nickel plating, to color ceramics, to make some batteries and as catalysts.
According to The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), workers may be harmed from exposure to nickel with the level of exposure depending upon the dose, duration and work being done. Some examples of workers NIOSH lists that are potentially at risk include:
• Refinery workers in nickel processing plants
• Jewelry and pawn shop workers who come in contact with nickel coins or jewelry
• Factory workers in plants where nickel alloys are used
• Workers who come in contact with tools and other nickel releasing surfaces
Anyone can be exposed by breathing dust containing it, through skin contact, or by consuming food or water that contains nickel. A common health effect of nickel exposure is an allergic reaction and approximately 10-20% of the population is sensitive to nickel according to the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry. The most common reaction is a skin rash at the site of contact, but the skin rash may also occur at a site away from the site of contact. Less frequently, some people who are sensitive to nickel have asthma attacks following exposure.
ATSDR also shares the fact that workers in nickel refineries or nickel-processing plants have experienced chronic bronchitis and reduced lung function by breathing elevated levels of it. Workers who have drank water containing high amounts of nickel have experienced stomach aches and suffered adverse effects to their blood and kidneys.
Cancers of the lung and nasal sinus have resulted when workers breathed dust containing high levels of nickel compounds while working in nickel refineries or nickel processing plants reports ATSDR. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that nickel metal may reasonably be anticipated to be a carcinogen and that nickel compounds are known human carcinogens. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that some nickel compounds are carcinogenic to humans and that metallic nickel may possibly be carcinogenic to humans. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that nickel refinery dust and nickel subsulfide are human carcinogens.
These are just a few things to know about nickel and potential exposure risks. To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, air quality, environmental, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown below.
Clark Seif Clark csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. emsl.com
LA Testing latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental zimmetry.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine healthyindoors.com
