Nickel ores were first discovered in the 17th century by German miners who were searching for copper. The miners found a new ore with a pale, brownish colour which they believed would contain copper. After failing to extract copper from the ores they believed they were tricked by 'Nickel', a mischievous daemon from German mythology and hence named the ore kupfernickel, or “devil’s copper”.
One of just 4 magnetic metals, nickel is the fifth most abundant metal on earth but most of it is locked away in the molten core. Many meteorites are composed of a nickel/iron alloy and it is a huge meteorite that is thought to have created the Sudbury Basin in Canada where 30% of the world's nickel is now mined.
Nickel has few uses in its pure form but has many uses when alloyed with other metals. In the 1880s, nickel was added to steel to produce hardened nickel-steel armour for warships. Along with chromium and molybdenum, nickel is a key ingredient of stainless steel. Its corrosion-resistant properties make nickel an ideal metal for use in coins where it is typically alloyed with copper. The US nickel (5 cents) is made up of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
Like many transition metals, nickel is a good catalyst and can be used for the “hydrogenation” of organic compounds. Nickel catalysts are commonly used in the production of margarine.
Nickel has no known function in humans but is an essential nutrient to plants. Human exposure to nickel is mainly through the consumption of plants, our water and through smoking tobacco. Accumulation of nickel in the body through chronic exposure to high levels may lead to several health complications including lung fibrosis, kidney and cardiovascular disease.
Exposure to fumes, dust, or mists containing nickel and its compounds is associated with nasal and lung cancers. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IRAC) has classified some nickel compounds as a carcinogen to humans; metallic nickel and its alloys have also been classified as potential carcinogens.
Around 20% of the population is thought to have some form of nickel allergy. Once sensitised to nickel, an individual might develop a rash or contact dermatitis when wearing inexpensive jewellery or handling coins.
Nickel is often found at low levels in drinking water. Whilst nickel may occur naturally in some groundwaters, the most common source of nickel in drinking water is leaching from pipes and fittings such as taps.
The use of nickel-plated brass connectors used in modern tap installations is of particular concern and may lead to high nickel concentrations, particularly when the water has been sat in the tap for long periods of time.
Nickel in your drinking water can be detected by the following tests.
Nickel can be reduced or removed from your drinking water using the following methods.
