MONITORING OF SOURCES OF CLINICAL-EXPOSURE TO NICKEL

Due to the widespread uses of Ni and Ni alloys, patients undergoing me dical treatments can experience inadvertent exposure to the metal, pre sent as a contaminant in fluids for intravenous administration or rele ased from surgical implants and other medical devices. Because of the risk of acute allergic reactions in Ni-sensitive subjects, sources of metal exposure within medical care and its concentrations in biologica l fluids of potentially exposed patients should be periodically monito red, using reliable analytical procedures, which include strict measur es of contamination control. The results of a recent survey on the con centrations of Ni and other potentially toxic metals in human albumin solutions are reported.