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Nickel on the market: a baseline survey of articles in ‘prolonged contact’ with skin
Author(s) -
Ringborg Evelina,
Lidén Carola,
Julander Anneli
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
contact dermatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0536
pISSN - 0105-1873
DOI - 10.1111/cod.12602
Subject(s) - contact dermatitis , allergic contact dermatitis , medicine , contact allergy , dermatology , nickel , baseline (sea) , environmental health , optometry , allergy , immunology , metallurgy , materials science , biology , fishery
Summary Background In A pril 2014, the E uropean C hemicals A gency defined the concept of ‘prolonged contact with skin’ as used in the EU nickel restriction. Objectives To establish a baseline of nickel‐releasing items on the S wedish market conforming with the EU nickel restriction according to the definition of ‘prolonged contact’ with the skin. Methods We performed a limited market survey in S tockholm, S weden. Items with metallic parts that come into contact with the skin, except those explicitly mentioned in the legal text, were chosen. The dimethylglyoxime ( DMG ) test was used to evaluate nickel release. Results One hundred and forty‐one items belonging to one of three categories – accessories, utensils for needlework, painting and writing (called utensils), and electronic devices – were tested in the study. Forty‐four percent of all items were DMG test‐positive (releasing nickel), and 9% gave a doubtful DMG test result. Conclusions The large proportion of nickel‐releasing items in the present study shows clearly that broader parts of industry need to take action to prevent nickel allergy. The high proportion of DMG test‐positive items indicates that there is still much work to be done to reduce the nickel exposure of the population.