Urine Nickel

General Information

Nickel (Ni) is frequently used in the production of metal alloys, in nickel-based rechargeable batteries and as a catalyst in the hydrogenation of oils. Elemental nickel is non-toxic except that it will induce inflammation at the point of contact. Nickel carbonyl, which is used in petroleum refining, is one of the most toxic chemicals known to man. Nickel carbonyl absorbed after inhalation, readily crosses all biological membranes, and noncompetitively inhibits ATP-ase and RNA polymerase. Patients exposed to nickel carbonyl exhibit rapid onset of pulmonary congestion and inability to oxygenate haemoglobin followed by development of lesions of the lung, liver, kidney, adrenals and spleen. Urine is the specimen of choice for the determination of Ni exposure via inhalation.

Patients undergoing dialysis are exposed to Ni and accumulate Ni in blood and other organs; there appear to be no adverse health affects from this exposure. Hypernickelemia has been observed in patients undergoing renal dialysis. At the present time, this is considered to be an incidental finding as no correlation with toxic events has been identified. Routine monitoring of patients undergoing dialysis is currently not recommended.