Nickel dinitrate

Endpoint summary

Description of key information

Value used for CSA (read-across from Nickel sulphate or Nickel ion):

NOAEL (oral, systemic, animal): 100 mg NiSO₄.6H₂O/kg bw(22 mg Ni/kg bw/day) (FDRL, 1983)

LOAEL (oral, systemic, human data): 0.012 mg Ni (Ni ion)/kg bw/day released from metallic nickel in water and food contact material (Nielsen et al 1999)

NOAEC (inhalation, systemic, animal): 0.53 mg NiSO₄.6H₂O/L air (120 mg Ni/m³) (EPSL, 2009a)

LOAEC (inhalation, local, animal data): 0.7 mg Ni/m³(DNEL calculation is based on 16-day repeated dose study-Benson et al, 1988; no acute data was available)

An acute local inhalation DNEL is derived based on the lung effects (e.g. lung inflammation) associated with nickel sulphate inhalation.  The shortest-term study available examining those effects in animals is a 16-day repeated exposure study.  An adjustment factor was derived to extrapolate the results from the repeated exposure study to an equivalent effect concentration in a 4 hr acute exposure.  See Appendix C3 for more information.

(Oral, local values are not applicable; Dermal, local or systemic, values are not applicable)

 

Additional information

There is data from one acute LD₅₀ oral rat study (Smyth et al, 1969) and three acute oral toxic class method studies (Phycher, 2003a, b, c) on nickel nitrate. The Smyth et al. (1969) study gave an LD₅₀ value of 1620 mg Ni-nitrate/kg. The study method deviates from the Annex V method in several important respects. Only one sex was used (males), and the animals were not fasted prior to dosing. Lower LD₅₀ values were reported for females than for males for another nickel soluble compound, nickel sulphate (FDRL 1983). Therefore, it is possible that a lower LD₅₀ value would have been determined for nickel nitrate if the female sex had been included in the Smyth et al. study. Furthermore, the uptake following oral exposure is known to depend greatly on the presence of food in the gastrointestinal tract. The uptake in fasting individuals is approximately 30%, while in non-fasting individuals a much smaller fraction is absorbed, estimated as 5% (see section on toxicokinetics for further details). The Smyth et al. study, using non-fasted rats, was thus likely to yield a higher LD₅₀ value than a study using fasted rats. In conclusion, the Smyth et al. study is expected to underestimate the toxicity compared to an Annex V test. The results of the three formulations tested by the acute toxic class method show a result in the range between 200 and 2000 mg/kg. However, an LD₅₀ could not be determined with only two doses (including the limit dose).

A GLP, OECD-guideline compliant acute oral toxicity study (EPSL, 2009b) and an FDRL (1983) study will be read-across from nickel sulphate. Effects data from these studies will be read-across to Ni nitrate to complete the DNEL derivation: LD₅₀ of 361.9 mg NiSO₄/kg/bw (EPSL, 2009a) and NOAEL of 100 mg NiSO₄.6H2O/kg (or 22 mg Ni/kg) (FDRL, 1983). A comprehensive read-across assessment was recently completed based on bioaccessibility data in synthetic gastric fluid of various nickel compounds combined in vivo verification data for three source nickel substances. The read-across paradigm presented in a summary document in IUCLID Section 7.2.1 and Appendix B1 of the CSR enables grouping of target Ni substances for classification purposes according to bioaccessibility in gastric fluid. This assessment supports that nickel nitrate should be read-across from Ni sulphate for acute oral toxicity.

Data regarding the potential acute inhalation toxicity of Ni nitrate are read-across from Ni sulphate. A comprehensive read-across assessment was recently completed based on bioaccessibility data in synthetic lung fluids of various nickel compounds combined in vivo verification data for three source nickel substances. The read-across paradigm presented in a summary document in Section 7.2.2 and in Appendix B2 to the CSR enables grouping of target Ni substances for classification purposes according to bioaccessibility in interstitial fluid as demonstrated.  The outcome of this assessment indicates that soluble nickel compounds, such as nickel nitrate, should be read-across from Ni sulphate, which has been shown to have an acute inhalation LC₅₀ of 2.48 mg NiSO₄/L and a NOAEC of 0.53 mg NiSO₄.6H₂O/L air (120 mg Ni/m³) (EPSL, 2009). Therefore, application of this read-across paradigm supports the current harmonized classification of Acute Tox 4; H332 for Ni nitrate.

There are no available data on which to evaluate acute dermal toxicity. However, acute toxicity is expected to be low in view of the poor absorption by this route. As oral and inhalation routes of exposure are more relevant and data for these have been provided, testing for acute dermal toxicity is therefore waived based on this information.

The following information is taken into account for any hazard / risk assessment:

ORAL: No reliable standard acute oral toxicity tests are available for nickel dinitrate. Data for acute oral toxicity of Ni nitrate will be read-across from Ni sulphate to fulfill the testing requirement and use in DNEL derivation: LD₅₀ of 361.9 mg NiSO₄/kg/bw and NOAEL of 100 mg NiSO₄.6H2O/kg (or 22 mg Ni/kg).

INHALATION: Animal studies of toxicity via inhalation are lacking, and no human data on the toxicity of nickel nitrate via this route have been found. Data will be read-across from Ni sulphate for acute inhalation toxicity: LC₅₀ of 2.48 mg NiSO₄/L and a NOAEC of 0.53 mg NiSO₄.6H2O/L air (120 mg Ni/m³).

DERMAL: No risk characterisation will be conducted for acute dermal toxicity. Acute systemic effects are not relevant due to the very low dermal absorption of nickel. Acute local effects are covered by the long term DNEL based on prevention of dermal sensitization.

Justification for classification or non-classification

Ni nitrate is classified as Acute Tox. 4; H302 and Acute Tox.4:H332 in the 1st ATP to the CLP Regulation. Background information supporting this classification has been provided in the section above.