 The toxicity of metal carbonyls is due to toxicity of carbon monoxide, the metal, and because of the volatility and instability of the complexes, any inherent toxicity of the metal is generally made much more severe due to ease of exposure.Exposure occurs by inhalation, or for liquid metal carbonyls by ingestion or due to the good fat solubility by skin resorption.Most clinical experience were gained from toxicological poisoning with nickel tetracarbonyl and iron pentacarbonyl due to their use in industry.