Carcinogenicity. Volume II, Summary reviews of the scientific evidence.

The Commission of the European Communities has devoted considerable effort to the control of toxic chemicals at the workplace, among the public and in the environment; both legal instruments and research programmes have been developed to this end. [...] To this end the Ad-Hoc Group on Dangerous Chemicals — Carcinogens (experts selected by the Directorate-General Employment, Industrial Relations and Social Af fairs with the participation of members of the Toxicology Section of the Scientific Ad visory Committee to Examine the Toxicity and Ecotoxicity of Chemical Compounds), are preparing summary reviews of the salient scientific evidence that un [...] An introductory chapter devoted to the inorganic chemistry, biological properties and the processing of nickel ore is provided to aid the reader in appreciating the complexity of the assessments of the studies considered. [...] The International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization pro duces a series of detailed monographs on the evaluation of the carcinogenic risk of chemicals to humans, and if it is available their evaluation in their summary format is included in the introductory section of the review. [...] Nickel and its compounds are widely utilized in industry, and human exposure can occur during mining and processing of nickel ores into me tallic nickel of various commercial grades, the production and fabrication of nic kel alloys and compounds, a variety of electrolytic procedures, in the manufac ture of batteries, and in welding procedures.