Nickel: Human Health and Environmental Toxicology

Abstract

Nickel is a transition element extensively distributed in the environment, air, water, and soil. It may derive from natural sources and anthropogenic activity. Although nickel is ubiquitous in the environment, its functional role as a trace element for animals and human beings has not been yet recognized. Environmental pollution from nickel may be due to industry, the use of liquid and solid fuels, as well as municipal and industrial waste. Nickel contact can cause a variety of side effects on human health, such as allergy, cardiovascular and kidney diseases, lung fibrosis, lung and nasal cancer. Although the molecular mechanisms of nickel-induced toxicity are not yet clear, mitochondrial dysfunctions and oxidative stress are thought to have a primary and crucial role in the toxicity of this metal. Recently, researchers, trying to characterize the capability of nickel to induce cancer, have found out that epigenetic alterations induced by nickel exposure can perturb the genome. The purpose of this review is to describe the chemical features of nickel in human beings and the mechanisms of its toxicity. Furthermore, the attention is focused on strategies to remove nickel from the environment, such as phytoremediation and phytomining.

Investigation of Metals Released From Imported Cookware Collected From a Local Market in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

“…Determination of metals released from imported cookware is very important, since several elements play major roles in various metabolic processes in the human body. Moreover, some of these elements are toxic if consumed in excessive quantities (Baran et al 2019). In this study, 10 elements (i.e.…”

Potential Nutrition of Leaves and Fruits of Dialium Angolense Welw. Ex Oliv. (Fabaceae) an Antimalarial Plant From the Eastern of DR Congo

“…However, in most cases, it is more toxic than beneficial. It can cause lung cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, and even cerebral edema (Buxton et al, 2019;Genchi et al, 2020). Vanadium, in low doses, as in the doses encountered in the leaves of Dialium angolense during this study, is endowed with several therapeutic potentials in humans.…”

Higher Prevalence of Nickel and Palladium Hypersensitivity in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

“…All subjects recruited in this study were regular users of metallic dental implants and/or prostheses containing zinc, gold, nickel, and/or palladium as major constituents. Nickel has long been known to be the major cause of metal hypersensitivity [11][12][13]. Palladium hypersensitivity has become an issue of growing concern owing to its increased use in industry, jewelry, and dentistry over the last few decades [14].…”