Health Risks of Nickel Silver

Nickel silver is a metal alloy commonly used to make flatware and cooking utensils. Although it appears silver in color, nickel silver does not actually contain any silver; rather, it is a compound of copper, nickel and zinc. Even though nickel silver is safe to eat from, it does pose health hazards when used in manufacturing processes.

Inhalation of Nickel Silver Particles

• Breathing nickel silver dust can cause irritation of the eyes and lungs as well as a skin rash. If exposed to harmful quantities of nickel silver, seek fresh air and flush your eyes with fresh water.

Welding and Brazing Nickel Silver

• When welding or brazing nickel silver, wear a welding mask to prevent harm to your eyes from ultra-violet rays created by the arc welding process. Nickel silver also may give off toxic fumes when heated to high temperatures, therefore weld in a well ventilated area.

Molten Nickel Silver

• When working with nickel silver in a liquid form, avoid exposing the molten metal to water. Super heated liquid metals may have an explosive reaction when mixed with water.

Carcinogenesis

• Nickel, a major ingredient in nickel silver, is known to cause cancer when there is a large and long-term exposure. Safety goggles, a mask and appropriate ventilation is necessary when working with nickel silver in industrial applications.