People can ingest soluble nickel compounds as a normal constituent of food
or as a contaminant in drinking water. This paper presents an assessment of
the noncancer and cancer human health risks from ingestion of soluble nick
el compounds. A reference dose (RfD) of 8 x 10(-3) mg Ni/kg/day in addition
to the amount in food was calculated, based on albuminuria in female rats
exposed to nickel sulfate in drinking water for 6 months (A. Vyskocil et al
., 1994, Hunt. Exp. Toxicol. 13, 689-693). This RfD is comparable to the cu
rrent RfD based on decreased body weight in a chronic feeding study in rats
(A. M. Ambrose et al, 1976, J. Food Sci. Technol. 13, 181-187). The potent
ial for nickel-induced reproductive toxicity was also taken into account in
the derivation of the RfD. There are a number of negative animal bioassays
with soluble nickel salts, but all of them have deficiencies that preclude
a definitive conclusion. According to EPA's 1996 draft cancer guidelines,
the carcinogenic potential of oral exposure to soluble nickel "cannot be de
termined because there are inadequate data to perform an assessment." (C) 2
000 Academic Press.