Industrial Hygiene Testing Services

Huntington Beach, CA, April 16^th, 2021

As far back as 1989, nickel (metallic) has been listed on California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, better known as Proposition 65. Nickel was added because the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) determined it could cause cancer.

Nickel (Ni) is a naturally occurring element and millions of tons of it are mined each year across the globe. Pure nickel is a hard, silvery-white metal used to make stainless steel and other metal alloys. These alloys are used to make coins, jewelry, jet engines, and many other items. Nickel can also be combined with other elements to form nickel compounds. These compounds are used for nickel plating, to color ceramics, to make some batteries, and as catalysts.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), workers may be harmed from exposure to nickel with the level of exposure depending upon the dose, duration, and work being done. Some examples of workers listed that are potentially at risk include:
 

• Refinery workers in nickel processing plants
• Jewelry, welding, and fabrication workers who encounter nickel coins or jewelry
• Factory workers in plants where nickel alloys are used
• Workers who encounter tools and other nickel releasing surfaces

“It’s not just metallic nickel that is on the Prop 65 list,” said Joseph Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at LA Testing. “Over the years, nickel acetate, nickel carbonate, nickel carbonyl, nickel compounds, nickel soluble compounds, nickel hydroxide, nickelocene, nickel oxide, nickel sulfide and nickel refinery dust from the pyrometallurgical process have all been added. Aside from cancer and developmental toxicity concerns, exposure to elevated levels of nickel can cause allergic reactions, asthma attacks, chronic bronchitis, and other concerns in some people according to the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry.”

In California, LA Testing is one of the primary providers of industrial hygiene and environmental testing for nickel and its compounds and alloys. Their laboratories provide sampling supplies, personal protective equipment, and air monitoring instruments to measure dust levels. LA Testing has even sponsored an educational video about nickel and potential exposure risks that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/LRmOzFN2EiM.

To learn more about nickel or other industrial hygiene, environmental, and material testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794.


About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash, and smoke damage, particulates, and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health, and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro, San Diego, and Ontario.