Nickel carbonyl: Health effects
Description
Initial exposure to nickel carbonyl can cause headache, chest tightness, dizziness, weakness, sweating, cough, nausea and vomiting. These may improve, but hours later (12 hours to five days) following a severe exposure, lung (pulmonary) symptoms may appear including fever, pneumonia, respiratory failure, cerebral oedema and death. At lower concentrations these vapours cause irritation, congestion, and oedema of the lung. Nickel carbonyl is a probable human carcinogen, and may be a teratogen (cause harm to a foetus).
Entering the body
Nickel carbonyl will enter the body if we breathe in contaminated air. It can also pass through the skin.
Exposure
Workers in the industries that use or produce nickel carbonyl are at risk of exposure. Consumers can be exposed to nickel carbonyl by exposure to air from production facilities, processing facilities, and disposal sites using or receiving nickel carbonyl.
Health guidelines
Worksafe Australia:
The eight hour time weighted average (TWA) exposure limit is 0.05 parts per million.
Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (NHMRC and ARMCANZ, 1996):
For nickel: Maximum of 0.02 mg/L (i.e. 0.00002 g/L).
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