Exposure

• Nickel Refining
• Metal Recycling/Reclamation
• Use of Nickel Carbonyl as Catalyst or Intermediate

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Physiology

• High-Intensity Inhalation of Nickel Carbonyl Fumes: exposure is common since nickel carbonyl fume is not acutely irritating
  • Usually associated with poor ventilation
  • Inhibition of enzymatic and pneumocyte functions
• Note: inorganic nickel, by itself, is a sensitizer, but is not associated with pneumonitis

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Clinical Presentations

(onset of symptoms usually 12-24 hrs after exposure)

• Acute Pneumonitis (see Pneumonia, [[Pneumonia]])
• Fever (see Fever, [[Fever]])
  • May occur
  • Not considered a type of metal fume fever
• Pulmonary Infiltrates with Eosinophilia (see [[Pulmonary Infiltrates with Eosinophilia]])
• Acute Lung Injury-ARDS (see Acute Lung Injury-ARDS, [[Acute Lung Injury-ARDS]])

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Treatment

• Dithiocarb (Diethyldithiocarbamate): use as a chelating agent is supported by animal studies in nickel carbonyl fume inhalation
• Disulfiram: weaker support for its use in nickel carbonyl fume inhalation

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References

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