Contamination nickel

Sediment nickel concentrations are grossly elevated near the nickel-copper smelter at Sudbury, Ontario, and downstream from steel manufacturing plants. Sediments from nickel-contaminated sites have between 20 and 5000 mg Ni/kg DW these values are at least 100 times lower at comparable uncontaminated sites (Chau and Kulikovsky-Cordeiro 1995). A decrease in the pH of water caused by acid rain may release some of the nickel in sediments to the water column (NRCC 1981). Transfer of nickel from water column to sediments is greatest when sediment particle size is comparatively small and sediments contain high concentrations of clays or organics (Bubb and Lester 1996). 

Mosses and lichens accumulate nickel readily and at least nine species are used to monitor environmental gradients of nickel (Jenkins 1980a). Maximum concentrations of nickel found in whole lichens and mosses from nickel-contaminated areas range between 420 and 900 mg/kg DW vs. 12 mg/kg DW from reference sites (Jenkins 1980a). Nickel concentrations in herbarium mosses worldwide have increased dramatically during this century. In one case, nickel concentrations in Brachythecium salebrosum from Montreal, Canada, rose from 6 mg/kg DW in 1905 to 105 mg/kg DW in 1971 (Richardson etal. 1980). 

Mammalian wildlife from uncontaminated habitats usually contain less than 0.1 to about 5 mg Ni/kg DW in tissues in nickel-contaminated areas, these same species have 0.5 to about 10 mg Ni/kg DW in tissues (Outridge and Scheuhammer 1993 Chau and Kulikovsky-Cordeiro 1995), with a maximum of 37 mg/kg DW in kidneys of the common shrew (Sorex araneus) (Table 6.6). Nickel accumulations in wildlife vary greatly between species. For example, tissues of mice have higher concentrations of nickel than rats and other rodents, while beavers and minks have higher nickel concentrations in their livers than birds in similar sites near Sudbury (Chau and Kulikovsky-Cordeiro 1995). 

Grown on nickel-contaminated soils (>1500 mg Ni/kg DW surface soils) vs. reference site Heads and tops Roots... 

Algae and macrophytes nickel-contaminated areas vs. reference sites... 

Pond lily, Nuphar sp. Ontario, Canada nickel-contaminated areas ... 

Canada ducklings nickel-contaminated vs. reference site Kidney 0.3 FW vs. 0.3 FW 29... 

Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus Canada nickel-contaminated vs. reference areas May... 

Shrews southern Finland Common shrew, Sorexaraneus-, nickel-contaminated vs. reference site ... 

Nickel-contaminated drinking water has adverse effects on rat reproduction and may neurologically affect the eyes of humans, although this needs to be verified. 

From ingestion through water and nickel-contaminated fishery products Less than 13.4 pg total recoverable Ni/L 6... 

Frank, R., K. I Stonefield, and P. Suda. 1982. Impact of nickel contamination on the production of vegetables on an organic soil, Ontario, Canada, 1980-1981. Set. Total Environ. 29 41-65. 

In the electrowinning of cadmium, nickel is an interfering element that has to be continuously removed from the electrolyte, a weak acidic cadmium sulfate solution. To handle the undesirable buildup of nickel contamination and at the same time obey environmental demands, the industry installed a solvent extraction kidney [8],... 

Occelli, M. L. and Stencel, J. M., "Surface-metals Interactions in Fluid Cracking Catalysts During the Upgrading of Nickel Contaminated Gas Oils," 9th Int. Congr. Catalysis, Calgary, Canada (1988), accepted. 

Hydrocarbon adsorption experiments show significant differences between the nickel contaminated zeolitic and non-zeolitic particles at metals levels comparable to those of the catalytic experiments. Neither hexane nor 1-hexene showed any interaction with nickel on the low surface area, non-zeolitic particles (the unpromoted material of Table I) at temperatures up to 425 C. Additionally, no interaction between hexene and the nickel on the zeolitic particles was observed over the temperature range studied. However, the nickel on the zeolitic component did cause significant retention of hexane at temperatures as low as 200 C with generation of what appeared to be higher molecular weight products. No cracking products were observed. With the uncontaminated zeolitic particles, hexane retention only occurred at temperatures above 300°C. Thus, the lower temperature retention for the contaminated particles appears to be due to the presence of nickel. 

The second of these hypotheses (more facile reduction of nickel on zeolitic particles) is contradicted by the results of our TPR experiments. In fact, the TPR results on both nickel contaminated zeolitic and non-zeolitic particles suggest that none of the nickel on these materials is reduced under normal MAT testing conditions, since the onset temperature of nickel reduction (1100-1150°F) is considerably higher than the operating temperature of the MAT (910op). 

Our third hypothesis, i.e., that the activity enhancement involves the proximity of the zeolite s acid sites, appears to be consistent with the hydrocarbon adsorption experiments, but may also be due to differences in the nickel dispersion arising from surface area differences between the two types of particles. Clearly, the adsorption of hexane at lower temperature on the nickel contaminated zeolitic particles suggests a significantly altered environment from both the uncontaminated and the non-zeolitic materials. 

FIGURE 5-1. Frequency of NPL Sites With Nickel Contamination ... 

Information on nickel exposure from hazardous waste sites is lacking. The most probable route of exposure from hazardous waste sites would be dermal contact, inhalation of dust, and ingestion of nickel-contaminated soil. Groundwater contamination may occur where the soil has a coarse texture and where acid waste, such as waste from plating industries, is discarded. People using this water may be exposed to high levels of nickel. 

---