Nickel refinery dust, carcinogenic

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that nickel and certain nickel compounds may reasonably be anticipated to be carcinogens. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (lARC) has determined that some nickel compounds are carcinogenic to humans and that metallic nickel may possibly be carcinogenic to humans. The EPA has determined that nickel refinery dust and nickel subsulfide are human carcinogens. 

EPA Carcinogen classifieation Nickel refinery dust and nickel subsulfide Group A" IRIS 1996... 

The carcinogenicity of nickel compounds in industrial workers has been comprehensively reviewed in several publications (6,7,8,9,10). Increased incidences of cancer of the lung and nasal cavities have been documented by epidemiological investigations of nickel-refinery workers in Wales (11,12), Canada (13,14), Norway (15), and Russia (16). The identity of the nickel compounds that induce cancers in nickel-refinery workers remains uncertain although principal attention has been focused upon (a) insoluble dusts of nickel subsulfide (Ni3S2) and nickel oxides (NiO Ni203), (b) the vapor of nickel carbonyl (Ni(CO)4) and, (c) soluble aerosols of nickel sulfate, nitrate, or chloride (8,10,17). 

The major health effect of nickel and its compounds is contact allergy and allergic contact dermatitis as a result of skin exposure to nickel ions, Ni(II). Inhalation exposure to soluble nickel and nickel oxides/sulfides has caused nasal and pulmonary cancer in workers in nickel refineries although there are no convincing data on carcinogenicity for metallic nickel dust in humans. Exposure to nickel or nickel compounds via routes other than inhalation has not been shown to increase the cancer risk in humans (Aitio 1995). Inhalation of nickel compounds may induce asthma however, nickel-induced asthma is rare. 

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