Nickel Toxicity

Table of Contents

Uses of Nickel

Plants, animals and fungi need nickel for functioning of Enzyme Urease.
- g. Fungus Cryptococcus Neofarmans use Urease to spread and Colonise
It is used as a colouring agent in cosmetics, paints, and some plastics.
It is used in electroplating, adding a thin layer of nickel to other metals for better appearance and durability.
It is found in batteries like nickel-metal hydride and rechargeable nickel-cadmium, used in devices such as laptops and power tools.

Nickel is carcinogenic. It may cause lung fibrosis, kidney and cardiovascular diseases and cancer of the respiratory tract.

Nickel Ore distribution in India

The Sukinda valley in Jajpur district, Odisha, has important deposits of nickel in the form of limonite.
In Jharkhand’s East Singhbhum district, nickel is found as a sulphide, along with copper.
Indonesia and Australia have the largest nickel reserves in the world.