Nickel global atmosphere, emissions

The nomenclature of nickel compounds should be further standardized (WHO 1991). Analytical methods must be developed and standardized in order to facilitate speciation of nickel compounds in atmospheric emissions, biological materials, and in other environmental samples (NAS 1975 WHO 1991). Studies are needed to elucidate the biogeochemical nickel cycle on a global scale and determine its potential for long-range transport (WHO 1991). 

Fig. 4 Global metal emissions to the atmosphere by region (tonnes/year) for arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and molybdenum (Mo) (a) chromium (Cr), copper (Cu) and manganese Mn (b) nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), vanadium (V) and zinc (Zn) (c) and antimony (Sb), selenium (Se), tin (Sn) and thallium (Tl) (d) (data from Pacyna and Pacyna 2001)...

About 8.5 million tons of nickel enter the global atmosphere per year fiom natural sources, mainly from windblown dusts produced by weathering of rocks and by volcanic emissions [3]. More than 43 million tons are emitted into the atmosphere by anthropogenic activities per year. The main sources are residential and fuel oil combustion, nickel mining, and waste incineration [1]. 

Cadmium (Cd) anode cells are at present manufactured based on nickel-cadmium, silver-cadmium, and mercury-cadmium couples. Thus wastewater streams from cadmium-based battery industries carry toxic metals cadmium, nickel, silver, and mercury, of which Cd is regarded the most hazardous. It is estimated that globally, manufacturing activities add about 3-10 times more Cd to the atmosphere than from natural resources such as forest fire and volcanic emissions. As a matter of fact, some studies have shown that NiCd batteries contribute almost 80% of cadmium to the environment,4,23 while the atmosphere is contaminated when cadmium is smelted and released as vapor into the atmosphere4 Consequently, terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric environments become contaminated with cadmium and remain reservoirs for human cadmium poisoning. 

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