Mary Ellen,
As a Medical Toxicologist, not a chemist, I have not worked dire
ctly with Nickel Carbonyl in a laboratory.
However, it is a very toxic substance which can cause lung irritat
ion, usually followed by a relatively asymptomatic period, and then del
ayed onset of non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema which can be fatal with repor
ted deaths occurring after 3-13 days following exposure by inhalation. 
; The fatal airborne level has been estimated to be 30 ppm for 30 minutes
. In this sense it acts very much like exposure to airborne nitric
acid vapor or oxides of nitrogen (NOx).
While there has been some controversy regarding the potential carcinogenici
ty of Nickel Carbonyl, this has been based on experimental
animal studies and reports of vapor exposures in nickel refinery workers be
ing associated with increased risk of paranasal sinus and lung cancers.&nbs
p; The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined
that there is limited evidence for the carcinogenicity of this compound in
experimental animals and the US EPA classifies it as a level B2 suspected c
arcinogen based on animal studies as well.
For an excellent short and succinct review, see the following reference:<
BR>
Hathaway GJ, Proctor NH: Proctor & Hughes' Chemical Hazards
of the Workplace, 5th ed. Wiley Interscience, John Wiley &
; Sons, Hoboken, NJ, 2004, pp. 511-512.
There's also a much more thorough review in the National Library of Medicin
e's Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) which is available on their websi
te without cost:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov
select the heading under Environmental Toxicology from the menu on the left
, select HSDB, and enter either the Chemical Name or CAS registry numbe
r (13463-39-3).
This is obviosuly a chemical which must be handled with very strict chemica
l safety procedures in place. Hope this is useful.
Alan
Alan H. Hall, M.D.
TCMTS, Inc.
Laramie, WY
ahalltoxic**At_Symbol_Here**msn.com
Clinical Assistant Professor
Colorado School of Public Health
Denver, CO
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