Environmental Toxicology Research Laboratory, NIH RCMI-Center for Environmental Health, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA.
Rev Environ Health. 2011;26(2):81-92. doi: 10.1515/reveh.2011.012.
Nickel, a naturally occurring element that exists in various mineral forms, is mainly found in soil and sediment, and its mobilization is influenced by the physicochemical properties of the soil. Industrial sources of nickel include metallurgical processes such as electroplating, alloy production, stainless steel, and nickel-cadmium batteries. Nickel industries, oil- and coal-burning power plants, and trash incinerators have been implicated in its release into the environment. In humans, nickel toxicity is influenced by the route of exposure, dose, and solubility of the nickel compound. Lung inhalation is the major route of exposure for nickel-induced toxicity. Nickel can also be ingested or absorbed through the skin. The primary target organs are the kidneys and lungs. Other organs such as the liver, spleen, heart, and testes can also be affected to a lesser extent. Although the most common health effect is an allergic reaction, research has also demonstrated that nickel is carcinogenic to humans. The focus of the present review is on recent research concerning the molecular mechanisms of nickel-induced genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. We first present a background on the occurrence of nickel in the environment, human exposure, and human health effects.
镍是一种天然存在的元素，以多种矿物形式存在，主要存在于土壤和沉积物中，其迁移受土壤物理化学性质的影响。镍的工业来源包括电镀、合金生产、不锈钢和镍镉电池等冶金过程。镍工业、石油和燃煤电厂以及垃圾焚烧炉都被认为是将镍释放到环境中的原因。在人类中，镍毒性受暴露途径、剂量和镍化合物的溶解度的影响。肺部吸入是镍诱导毒性的主要暴露途径。镍也可以通过皮肤摄入或吸收。主要靶器官是肾脏和肺部。其他器官，如肝脏、脾脏、心脏和睾丸，也可能受到较小程度的影响。尽管最常见的健康影响是过敏反应，但研究还表明镍对人类具有致癌性。本综述的重点是最近关于镍诱导遗传毒性和致癌性的分子机制的研究。我们首先介绍了镍在环境中的存在、人类暴露和人类健康影响的背景。
