Nickel essentiality, toxicity, and carcinogenicity

• Published in: Critical reviews in oncology/hematology Vol. 42; no. 1; pp. 35 - 56
• Main Authors: Denkhaus, E., Salnikow, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.04.2002
• Subjects: Animals; Body Fluids - chemistry; Calcium - metabolism; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - chemically induced; Cells, Cultured - drug effects; Cocarcinogenesis; Drug Administration Routes; Environmental Exposure; Female; Homeostasis; Humans; Male; Metalloproteins - chemistry; Mice; Neoplasms - chemistry; Neoplasms, Experimental - chemically induced; Nickel - administration & dosage; Nickel - adverse effects; Nickel - chemistry; Nickel - metabolism; Nickel - pharmacology; Nickel carcinogenicity; Nickel essentiality; Nickel toxicity; Oxidative Stress; Rats; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Species Specificity; Transcription, Genetic - drug effects; Nickel toxicity; Nickel carcinogenicity; Nickel essentiality
• ISSN: 1040-8428; 1879-0461
• DOI: 10.1016/S1040-8428(01)00214-1

The increasing utilization of heavy metals in modern industries leads to an increase in the environmental burden. Nickel represents a good example of a metal whose use is widening in modern technologies. As the result of accelerated consumption of nickel-containing products nickel compounds are released to the environment at all stages of production and utilization. Their accumulation in the environment may represent a serious hazard to human health. Among the known health related effects of nickel are skin allergies, lung fibrosis, variable degrees of kidney and cardiovascular system poisoning and stimulation of neoplastic transformation. The mechanism of the latter effect is not known and is the subject of detailed investigation. This review provides an analysis of the current state in the field.