Nickel & compounds: Sources of emissions
Industry sources
Combustion of coal and other fossil fuels leads to release of nickel to the atmosphere. Other sources of atmospheric nickel include emissions from mining and refining operations, steel production, nickel alloy production, electroplating, and municipal waste incineration. Sources of nickel in water and soil include wastewater from municipal sewage treatment plants. Nickel oxide has been identified in residual fuel oil and in atmospheric emissions from nickel refineries.
Diffuse sources, and industry sources included in diffuse emissions data
A minor source of atmospheric nickel is windblown dust. Sources of nickel in water and soil include stormwater run off, soil contaminated with municipal sewage sludge, and ground water near landfill sites.
Natural sources
Nickel is an abundant element. It is naturally found in soils, waters, and foods, and is emitted from volcanoes. It mainly occurs in combination with arsenic, antimony and sulfur in the environment. A large resource of nickel lies in the seabed. Pure nickel is found alloyed with iron in many meteors and the earth's core is believed to contain substantial quantities. Commercially important nickel ores are garnierite, pyrrhotite and millerite.
Transport sources
Vehicles running on petrol and diesel fuel can contribute to nickel emissions to the atmosphere.
Consumer products
Coins, jewellery, nickel-cadmium batteries, some paints and ceramics, magnetic tapes, computer components, goods containing stainless steel (sinks, cooking utensils, cutlery).
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