Nickel: Human Health and Environmental Toxicology.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science and Toxicology
• Occupational Health
• Biogeochemistry

Background:

• Nickel is a ubiquitous transition element found in air, water, and soil, originating from both natural and anthropogenic activities.
• While prevalent, nickel's essentiality as a trace element for animals and humans remains unestablished.
• Nickel pollution stems from industrial processes, fuel combustion, and waste disposal, posing environmental and health risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the chemical characteristics of nickel relevant to human exposure.
• To detail the molecular mechanisms underlying nickel-induced toxicity.
• To explore environmental remediation strategies for nickel contamination.

Main Methods:

• Literature review synthesizing existing research on nickel's environmental distribution and toxicological effects.
• Analysis of studies investigating nickel's role in cellular dysfunction, including mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress.
• Examination of research on nickel's carcinogenic potential, focusing on epigenetic alterations.

Main Results:

• Nickel exposure is linked to adverse health outcomes such as allergies, cardiovascular and kidney diseases, lung fibrosis, and cancers.
• Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are implicated as key mechanisms in nickel toxicity.
• Nickel exposure can induce epigenetic alterations, potentially contributing to its carcinogenic effects.

Conclusions:

• Understanding nickel's toxicity mechanisms is crucial for assessing human health risks.
• Environmental nickel contamination requires effective management strategies.
• Phytoremediation and phytomining offer promising approaches for nickel removal from contaminated environments.