What happens to nickel when it enters the environment?
• Nickel is released into the atmosphere by industries that make or use nickel, nickel alloys, or nickel compounds. It is also released into the atmosphere by oil-burning power plants, coal-burning power plants, and trash incinerators. • In the air, it attaches to small particles of dust that settle to the ground or are taken out of the air in rain or snow; this usually takes many days. • Nickel released in industrial waste-water ends up in soil or sediment where it strongly attaches to particles containing iron or manganese. • Nickel does not appear to accumulate in fish or in other animals used as food.
