The major source of nickel exposure is oral consumption, as nickel is essential to plants.[93] Nickel is found naturally in both food and water, and may be increased by human pollution. For example, nickel-plated faucets may contaminate water and soil; mining and smelting may dump nickel into waste-water; nickel–steel alloy cookware and nickel-pigmented dishes may release nickel into food. The atmosphere may be polluted by nickel ore refining and fossil fuel combustion. Humans may absorb nickel directly from tobacco smoke and skin contact with jewelry, shampoos, detergents, and coins. A less-common form of chronic exposure is through hemodialysis as traces of nickel ions may be absorbed into the plasma from the chelating action of albumin.

The average daily exposure does not pose a threat to human health. Most of the nickel absorbed every day by humans is removed by the kidneys and passed out of the body through urine or is eliminated through the gastrointestinal tract without being absorbed. Nickel is not a cumulative poison, but larger doses or chronic inhalation exposure may be toxic, even carcinogenic, and constitute an occupational hazard.[94]

Nickel compounds are classified as human carcinogens[95][96][97][98] based on increased respiratory cancer risks observed in epidemiological studies of sulfidic ore refinery workers.[99] This is supported by the positive results of the NTP bioassays with Ni sub-sulfide and Ni oxide in rats and mice.[100][101] The human and animal data consistently indicate a lack of carcinogenicity via the oral route of exposure and limit the carcinogenicity of nickel compounds to respiratory tumours after inhalation.[102][103] Nickel metal is classified as a suspect carcinogen;[95][96][97] there is consistency between the absence of increased respiratory cancer risks in workers predominantly exposed to metallic nickel[99] and the lack of respiratory tumours in a rat lifetime inhalation carcinogenicity study with nickel metal powder.[104] In the rodent inhalation studies with various nickel compounds and nickel metal, increased lung inflammations with and without bronchial lymph node hyperplasia or fibrosis were observed.[98][100][104][105] In rat studies, oral ingestion of water-soluble nickel salts can trigger perinatal mortality effects in pregnant animals.[106] Whether these effects are relevant to humans is unclear as epidemiological studies of highly exposed female workers have not shown adverse developmental toxicity effects.[107][108][109][110]

People can be exposed to nickel in the workplace by inhalation, ingestion, and contact with skin or eye. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set the legal limit (permissible exposure limit) for the workplace at 1 mg/m3 per 8-hour workday, excluding nickel carbonyl. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) specifies the recommended exposure limit (REL) of 0.015 mg/m3 per 8-hour workday. At 10 mg/m3, nickel is immediately dangerous to life and health.[111] Nickel carbonyl [Ni(CO)
4] is an extremely toxic gas. The toxicity of metal carbonyls is a function of both the toxicity of the metal and the off-gassing of carbon monoxide from the carbonyl functional groups; nickel carbonyl is also explosive in air.[112][113]

Sensitized individuals may show a skin contact allergy to nickel known as a contact dermatitis. Highly sensitized individuals may also react to foods with high nickel content.[114] Sensitivity to nickel may also be present in patients with pompholyx. Nickel is the top confirmed contact allergen worldwide, partly due to its use in jewelry for pierced ears.[115] Nickel allergies affecting pierced ears are often marked by itchy, red skin. Many earrings are now made without nickel or low-release nickel[116] to address this problem. The amount allowed in products that contact human skin is now regulated by the European Union. In 2002, researchers found that the nickel released by 1 and 2 Euro coins was far in excess of those standards. This is believed to be the result of a galvanic reaction.[117] Nickel was voted Allergen of the Year in 2008 by the American Contact Dermatitis Society.[118] In August 2015, the American Academy of Dermatology adopted a position statement on the safety of nickel: "Estimates suggest that contact dermatitis, which includes nickel sensitization, accounts for approximately $1.918 billion and affects nearly 72.29 million people."[114]

Reports show that both the nickel-induced activation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1) and the up-regulation of hypoxia-inducible genes are caused by depletion of intracellular ascorbate. The addition of ascorbate to the culture medium increased the intracellular ascorbate level and reversed both the metal-induced stabilization of HIF-1- and HIF-1α-dependent gene expression.[119][120]

gdenby said:

Give credit to Wikipedia when quoting.

I think the damage to my wallet from visiting that site is likely to be worse than exposure to nickel. Way too many nice bits of cooking bling.

GrillSgt said:

Well if it's approved by the FDA then we know we can trust it. 

Right?

HeavyG said:

GrillSgt said:

Well if it's approved by the FDA then we know we can trust it. 

Right?

As opposed to just opinions from random knobs on the internet?

It can be a tough call.

HeavyG said:

nolaegghead said:

NPHuskerFL said:

- It's manufactured and Made in USA.
- Price is inline with other similar in quality products by other manufacturers 
-Nickel is and has been used for years in coating commercial cookware. If you're frightened by it might I suggest not eating out at 75%+/- quality dining restaurants.  Stick with your mystery meat slurry McRib.
-Enamel coated CI has risks of chipping, flaking and then the concern is bacteria. Discoloration or staining is also common place in enamel coated CI.
-Griswold and Wagner are history but, available if you're willing to hunt. Like any iron hound I have my fair share.
-No need to trash talk an American company making a quality product.  
-Think it's overpriced? Don't buy it.

What cooking surfaces in a restaurant are nickle plated?  Fryers - stainless, grills - cast iron, griddles - steel, pots and pans - aluminum or stainless steel.

Sure, there's some nickel in SS, in solder on pipes and in bronze, and coatings on other plumbing.

Remember, with alloys, like Stainless Steel, the alloy holds everything in where it doesn't leach out - Chromium is a major component and it's HIGHLY toxic.  But it doesn't leach out, even with fairly acidic foods. 

It's probably not a big deal if they "fixed" the nickle in an alloy that kept it inert to leaching.  

Anyway, the FDA is typically behind the EU in regs because of the powerful US industry lobbyists.  Eventually, if the issue is real, they adopt it, slowly, like they did with BPA bans in baby nipples.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4284091/

GrillSgt said:

So does this mean you trust the FDA a little less than you did a few minutes ago. 

HeavyG said:

Tspud1 said:

I have to wonder how thick the plating is. On some high-end  commercial griddles the nickel chrome can pit due to stainless spatula and then peel off. It's only a few thousandth of an inch thick. Very expensive griddles.

According to the patent for the electroless nickel plating process they use:

The cookware substrate is inserted into the plating bath, without rinsing, for a period of time sufficient to attain a plating thickness of not less than 0.0025 inch, during which air sparging of the bath is conducted to cause circulation of the bath and complete coverage of the substrate by the nickel containing coating. The plating can be any desired thickness, but usually is less than 0.0100 inch. For a plating thickness in the optimum range, the substrate should remain in contact with the plating material for about 1½ to 2 hours. The temperature of the plating bath is advantageously in the range of from 180 to 202 F, and preferably in the range of 192 to 196 F. The preferred pH of the bath is 4.7 to 5.0.

***

Didn't see anything on the company website that specifically addressed the thickness they actually apply to their skillets tho.