Environmental health risks of nickel that leads to diseases

Abstract

Nickel is a common metal present in the environment, and human exposure can occur through diet, the environment and materials we touch. Soluble and insoluble nickel compounds can lead to several adverse health effects, with nickel sulphate being the most potent. Workers in nickel processing industries are most frequently exposed to high levels of nickel through inhalation and skin contact, which can result in allergies, gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms, Allergic Contact Dermatitis (ACD) and Systemic Nickel Allergy Syndrome (SNAS). Although the exact molecular pathways of nickel-induced neurotoxicity are unknown, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunctions play crucial roles.