Is nickel harmful to the body?

Nickel is a metal element and also a siderophilic element. There are many objects containing nickel, such as granite that we usually come into contact with. It is also found that nickel is a trace element contained in our body. It plays an important role in the human body and is also an important element to ensure the function of the human body. We also know that various substances in the body need a normal balance, which is the most important thing. Is nickel harmful to the body? Let’s find out.

Nickel has now been found to activate insulin, similar to the effect of chromium. Nickel and chromium deficiency can weaken the activity of insulin, hinder the utilization of sugar, and increase the content of fat and lipids in the blood. These substances are deposited in the blood vessel walls, leading to atherosclerosis, and thus causing coronary heart disease and hypertension. Some people have observed from animal experiments that nickel can inhibit the synthesis of cholesterol and fat in rat liver, which shows that nickel has a certain effect on sugar metabolism and fat metabolism. Although the role of nickel in human health is not yet fully understood, it is already one of the indispensable trace elements in human life.

Nickel is a component of plasmin, which stimulates hematopoiesis and promotes the regeneration of red blood cells. It has physiological activity similar to that of cobalt, and the changes in blood nickel are similar to those of cobalt during the treatment of anemia. Giving blood donors 5 mg of nickel salt per day can significantly accelerate the synthesis of hemoglobin and the regeneration of red blood cells. Nickel is also an activator of some enzymes in the body, which are important enzymes in the metabolism of proteins and nucleic acids in organisms. Therefore, when the nickel level is reduced, it may cause changes in the body's metabolism, leading to dysfunction of certain organs. In addition, it can maintain the structure of cell membranes, control prolactin, etc. Therefore, the role of nickel in human health cannot be ignored. Nickel is a trace element for the human body. Excessive intake can cause poisoning and graying of hair. In an environment contaminated by large amounts of nickel, there are respiratory tumors and a high incidence of skin diseases. Powdered nickel combines with carbon monoxide to form tetracarbonyl nickel, which enters the human body through the respiratory tract and can cause pulmonary hemorrhage, edema, cerebral white matter hemorrhage, fatty degeneration of the capillary wall, complicated by respiratory disorders, and respiratory system cancer. Nickel tetracarbonyl has been confirmed to be a carcinogen. Smoking causes lung cancer, which may be related to nickel.

Through the above introduction, we know that nickel is a trace element that plays an important role in the body. However, it should be noted that high nickel content can also cause serious harm to the human body. If nickel exceeds the standard or is heavily exposed, it can also cause various diseases. This must be paid attention to in life.