Nickel's physiological function

Physiological function of nickel

Sensitization: nickel is the most common sensitizing metal. About 20% of people are allergic to nickel ions. The number of female patients is higher than that of male patients. When in contact with human body, nickel ions can penetrate into the skin through pores and sebaceous glands, causing skin allergy and inflammation. Its clinical manifestations are dermatitis and eczema. Once sensitization occurs, nickel allergy can often last indefinitely. The pressure, sweat, humidity and friction between the atmosphere and the skin of patients will aggravate the symptoms of nickel allergy. Nickel allergic dermatitis is characterized by pruritus, papular or papular vesicular dermatitis, accompanied by mossization.

Clinical observation: in higher animals and humans, the biochemical function of nickel is unknown. However, in vitro experiments, animal experiments and clinical observations provide valuable results.

1. In vitro experiments showed the affinity of nickel thiamine pyrophosphate (cocarboxylase), pyridoxal phosphate, porphyrins, proteins and peptides, and proved that nickel also binds to RNA and DNA.

2. Six kinds of dehydrogenases in liver decreased during nickel deficiency, including glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and glutamate dehydrogenase. These enzymes are involved in the production of NADH, anaerobic glycolysis, the tricarboxylic cycle, and the release of nitrogen from amino acids. Moreover, nickel deficiency showed changes in the structure of hepatocytes and mitochondria, especially the irregularity of endoplasmic reticulum and the reduction of mitochondrial oxidation function.

3. The blood nickel content of anemia patients is reduced, and the absorption of iron is reduced. Nickel has the effect of stimulating hematopoietic function. Red blood cells, heme and white blood cells increase after nickel supplementation in humans and animals.

Physiological needs: due to the daily intake of nickel 70 ~ 260 μ G/d, the human demand is calculated according to the results of animal experiments, and the possible demand is 25 ~ 35 μ g/d.

Excessive performance: drinking 250mg soluble nickel every day will cause poisoning. Some people are sensitive, intake 600 μ G can cause poisoning. According to animal experiments, chronic over intake or over exposure can lead to myocardial, brain, lung, liver and kidney degeneration.

Some data show that drinking water with high nickel content every day will increase the incidence rate of cancer, especially if you have cancer, you should avoid contact with nickel products during radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Some ceramic food utensils sold in the market should be carefully selected and used. Taking a ceramic utensil with high nickel content as a drinking utensil in daily life will improve the risk of disease.

In addition, some sex drugs produced by informal manufacturers also have high content of nickel. Therefore, great attention should be paid to nickel and human health

Deficiency: animal experiments show that lack of nickel can lead to slow growth and decreased fertility.

Application fields of nickel

Because nickel has good corrosion resistance, it is often used in electroplating. Nickel cadmium batteries contain nickel.

It is mainly used in alloys (formulas) (such as nickel steel and nickel silver) and as a catalyst (such as Raney nickel, especially as a catalyst for hydrogenation), which can be used to make money, etc. plating on other metals can prevent rust. It is mainly used to manufacture stainless steel and other corrosion-resistant alloys, such as nickel steel, nickel chromium steel and various non-ferrous metal alloys. Copper nickel alloys with high nickel content are not easy to corrode. It is also used as hydrogenation catalyst and in ceramic products, special chemical vessels, electronic circuits, green coloring of glass and preparation of nickel compounds, etc.

Electrolytic nickel: electrolytic nickel is nickel made by electrolytic method. Stainless steel and various alloy steels made from it are widely used in machine manufacturing, ceramic pigments, permanent magnet materials, electronic remote control and other fields in aircraft, tanks, ships, radars, missiles, spacecraft and civil industry.