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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.

The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.

Diss Factsheets

Administrative data

Description of key information

Value used for CSA:

Skin irritation / corrosion: irritating

Eye irritation: not irritating

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Skin irritation / corrosion

Endpoint conclusion
Endpoint conclusion:
adverse effect observed (irritating)

Eye irritation

Endpoint conclusion
Endpoint conclusion:
no adverse effect observed (not irritating)

Additional information

In vivo skin irritation data in rabbits demonstrated nickel sulphate was not a skin irritant. The skin irritation study was conducted in rabbits according to OECD Test #404 - Acute Dermal Irritation/Corrosion guidelines (Springborn Laboratories, Inc (SLI), 1999a). Three healthy rabbits were exposed via the skin to Ni sulphate to determine if the test substance had the potential to produce irritation. Very slight erythema was observed. Desquamation was also noted on one animal after one hour of exposure, but was completely resolved at the end of the observation period. The overall incidence and severity decreased with time, and the effects were fully reversible within 48 hours. According to OECD Test #404 guidelines, compounds should be considered an irritant if responses persist to the end of the observation period; however, findings of this study indicated effects were fully reversible significantly prior to the end of the observation period.  However, human data indicate that nickel sulphate in concentrations above 20% can induce skin irritation (Frosch & Kligman, 1976; Seidenari et al., 1996 Based on this human data, nickel sulphate is classified as Skin Irrit. 2: H315 in the 1st ATP to the CLP Regulation with a specific concentration limit of 20% (Seidenari et al., 1996).


 


The eye irritation study was conducted in rabbits according to OECD Test #405 - Acute Eye Irritation/Corrosion guidelines (Springborn Laboratories, Inc (SLI), 1999b). Three healthy rabbits were exposed via the eye to Ni sulphate to determine if the test substance had the potential to produce irritation. Irrititis and conjunctivitis were observed and completely resolved in all three animals. Based on the results of this study, Ni sulphate is not an eye irritant in experimental animals (SLI 1999b). Human data confirm this finding (Tsao et al., 2017).


 


While certain operations such as nickel plating, that involve exposure to acid mists and soluble nickel, have shown increases in respiratory irritation (coughing, dyspnea), the available data do not allow any firm conclusion on respiratory irritation of soluble nickel alone.


 


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


SKIN: Tested in rabbits, nickel sulphate was not a skin irritant. However, human data indicate that nickel sulphate in concentrations above 20% can induce skin irritation.


EYE: Nickel sulphate is not an eye irritant in experimental animals.


RESPIRATORY: The available data do not allow any conclusion on respiratory irritation.

Justification for classification or non-classification

Ni sulphate is classified as Skin Irrit. 2: H315 with a specific concentration limit of 20% in the 1st ATP to the CLP Regulation. Background information regarding this classification has been provided in the discussion section above.

Ni sulphate is not classified for eye irritation based on experimental data in animals.