Plants, terrestrial nickel

In natural waters, the geochemical behavior of nickel is similar to that of cobalt (USEPA 1980). It is therefore not surprising that nickel-cobalt mixtures in drinking water of rats were additive in toxicity (WHO 1991) and that there is a high correlation between nickel and cobalt concentrations in terrestrial plants (Memon et al. 1980). 

Terrestrial plants take up nickel from soil primarily via the roots (NRCC 1981 WHO 1991). The nickel uptake rate from soil is dependent on soil type, pH, humidity, organic content, and concentration of extractable nickel (NAS 1975 WHO 1991). For example, at soil pH less than 6.5 nickel uptake is enhanced due to breakdown of iron and manganese oxides that form stable complexes with nickel (Rencz and Shilts 1980). The exact chemical forms of nickel that are most readily accumulated from soil and water are unknown however, there is growing evidence that complexes of nickel with organic acids are the most favored (Kasprzak 1987). In addition to their uptake from the soils, plants consumed by humans may receive several milligrams of nickel per... 

Lichen, Umbilicaria sp. whole 16 km vs. 90 km from nickel smelter Terrestrial vegetation Hyperaccumulator plants Most species Vegetables... 

Brooks RR. 1980. Hyperaccumulation of nickel by terrestrial plants. In Nriagu JO, ed. Nickel in the environment. New York, NY John Wiley and Sons, 410-413. 

Copper-nickel mixtures have a beneficial effect on growth of terrestrial plants but are more-than-additive in toxic action to aquatic plants. Nickel interacts with iron in rat nutrition and metabolism, but the interaction depends on the form and level of the... 

In fish, 96 hr LC50 values generally fall within the range of 4-20 mg nickel/liter but can be higher in some species [9]. Long-term studies on fish, and fish development, in soft water demonstrated some effects on rainbow trout at levels as low as O.OS mg nickel/liter. In terrestrial plants, nickel levels above 50 mg/kg dry weight are usually toxic. 

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