Skip to main content
Environmental Health Perspectives logoLink to Environmental Health Perspectives
. 1989 May;81:221–224. doi: 10.1289/ehp.8981221

The accumulation of nickel in human lungs.

D A Edelman 1, V L Roggli 1
PMCID: PMC1567534  PMID: 2759060

Abstract

Using data from published studies, lung concentrations of nickel were compare for persons with and without occupational exposure to nickel. As expected, the concentrations were much higher for persons with occupational exposure. To estimate the effects of nickel-containing tobacco smoke and nickel in the ambient air on the amount of nickel accumulated in lungs over time, a model was derived that took into account various variables related to the deposition of nickel in lungs. The model predicted nickel concentrations that were in the range of those of persons without known nickel exposure. Nickel is a suspected carcinogen and has been associated with an increased risk of respiratory tract cancer among nickel workers. However, before the nickel content of cigarettes can be implicated in the etiology of lung cancer, further studies are needed to evaluate the independent effects of smoking and exposure to nickel.

Full text

PDF
221

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bartsch P., Collignon A., Weber G., Robaye G., Delbrouck J. M., Roelandts I., Yujie J. Distribution of metals in human lung: analysis by particle induced x-ray emission. Arch Environ Health. 1982 Mar-Apr;37(2):111–117. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1982.10667546. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Churg A. Fiber counting and analysis in the diagnosis of asbestos-related disease. Hum Pathol. 1982 Apr;13(4):381–392. doi: 10.1016/s0046-8177(82)80227-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Kollmeier H., Seemann J. W., Müller K. M., Rothe G., Wittig P., Schejbal V. B. Increased chromium and nickel content in lung tissue and bronchial carcinoma. Am J Ind Med. 1987;11(6):659–669. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700110607. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Kollmeier H., Witting C., Seemann J., Wittig P., Rothe R. Increased chromium and nickel content in lung tissue. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 1985;110(2):173–176. doi: 10.1007/BF00402735. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Kreyberg L. Lung cancer in workers in a nickel refinery. Br J Ind Med. 1978 May;35(2):109–116. doi: 10.1136/oem.35.2.109. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Kuehn K., Sunderman F. W., Jr Dissolution half-times of nickel compounds in water, rat serum, and renal cytosol. J Inorg Biochem. 1982 Aug;17(1):29–39. doi: 10.1016/s0162-0134(00)80227-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Roggli V. L., Ingram P., Linton R. W., Gutknecht W. F., Mastin P., Shelburne J. D. New techniques for imaging and analyzing lung tissue. Environ Health Perspect. 1984 Jun;56:163–183. doi: 10.1289/ehp.8456163. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Sunderman F. W., Jr The current status of nickel carcinogenesis. Ann Clin Lab Sci. 1973 May-Jun;3(3):156–180. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. TIPTON I. H., COOK M. J. Trace elements in human tissue. II. Adult subjects from the United States. Health Phys. 1963 Feb;9:103–145. doi: 10.1097/00004032-196302000-00002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. TIPTON I. H., SCHROEDER H. A., PERRY H. M., Jr, COOK M. J. TRACE ELEMENTS IN HUMAN TISSUE. 3. SUBJECTS FROM AFRICA, THE NEAR AND FAR EAST AND EUROPE. Health Phys. 1965 May;11:403–451. doi: 10.1097/00004032-196505000-00006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. WILLIAMS W. J. The pathology of the lungs in five nickel workers. Br J Ind Med. 1958 Oct;15(4):235–242. doi: 10.1136/oem.15.4.235. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Environmental Health Perspectives are provided here courtesy of National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

RESOURCES