Anneli Julander

A spot test for detection of cobalt release - early experience and findings.

Background: It is often difficult to establish clinical relevance of metal exposure in cobalt‐allergic patients. Dermatologists and patients may incorrectly assume that many metallic items release cobalt at levels that may cause cobalt dermatitis. Cobalt‐allergic patients may be unaware that they are exposed to cobalt from handling work items, causing hand dermatitis.

Cobalt-containing alloys and their ability to release cobalt and cause dermatitis

Background:  Cobalt, nickel, and chromium are important skin sensitizers. However, knowledge about cobalt exposure and causes of cobalt sensitization is limited.

Coin exposure may cause allergic nickel dermatitis: a review

Nickel is used in coins because the metal has beneficial properties, including price, colour, weight, and corrosion resistance, and also because it is easy to stamp. It has often been claimed that the duration of skin contact with coins is too short to cause nickel release and dermatitis. However, it is well known by dermatologists specialized in occupational skin diseases, and by their nickel‐allergic patients, that hand eczema in cashiers and other professionals who handle coins may be caused or aggravated by nickel release from coins. In this review, we present evidence from past studies showing that nickel‐containing coins can indeed pose a risk for those who handle them. For protection of the health of consumers, cashiers, and other workers who handle coins, it is suggested that coins without nickel release should be used as a substitute for the high nickel‐releasing coins currently in widespread use. The key risk factor in this situation is the ability of metal alloys in coins to release nickel and contaminate the skin after repeated contact from coin handling.

Cobalt release from inexpensive jewellery: has the use of cobalt replaced nickel following regulatory intervention?

Background: Before the introduction of the EU Nickel Directive, concern was raised that manufacturers of jewellery might turn from the use of nickel to cobalt following the regulatory intervention on nickel exposure.

Cobalt release from implants and consumer items and characteristics of cobalt sensitized patients with dermatitis

Background. Cobalt allergy is prevalent in dermatitis patients. Very little documentation exists about current sources of cobalt exposure.

Cobalt, nickel and chromium release from dental tools and alloys

Cobalt–chromium alloys are used as casting alloys by dental technicians when producing dental prostheses and implants. Skin exposure and metal release from alloys and tools used by the dental technicians have not been studied previously.

Assessment of nickel and cobalt release from 200 unused hand-held work tools for sale in Denmark — Sources of occupational metal contact dermatitis?

INTRODUCTION Nickel and cobalt allergy remain frequent in dermatitis patients. It is important to determine possible nickel and cobalt exposures at work as these may offer important information to regulators and physicians who perform patch testing. Clinical relevance of metal exposure is usually assessed by the treating physician via the medical history and by presentation of allergic contact dermatitis. OBJECTIVES To screen unused non-powered hand-held work tools for nickel and cobalt release by using colorimetric spot tests. MATERIALS & METHODS A random selection of 200 non-powered hand-held work tools for sale in 2 retailers of home improvement and construction products were analyzed qualitatively for metal release using the colorimetric nickel and cobalt spot tests. RESULTS Nickel release was identified from 5% of 200 work tools using the dimethylglyoxime (DMG) test. In 8 of 10, positive results were located to the metal ring that acts like a cuff and is located at the end of the grip. The positive DMG test results were not related to specific categories of work tools. The cobalt spot test gave no positive test reactions. CONCLUSIONS It appears that the proportion of work tools that release nickel, in amounts that may result in allergic nickel dermatitis, has decreased markedly, when results were compared with a Swedish study performed more than a decade ago. No cobalt release was detected but it should be underscored that hard-metal tools were not examined. Other sources of cobalt may explain the relatively high levels of cobalt allergy in dermatitis patients.

New UK nickel-plated steel coins constitute an increased allergy and eczema risk.

Nickel‐plated steel coins have recently been introduced in the United Kingdom.

Nickel deposited on the skin–visualization by DMG test

Background. Nickel is the most common cause of contact allergy and an important risk factor for hand eczema. Visualization techniques may be powerful in showing exposures. The dimethylglyoxime (DMG) test might be used to establish skin exposure to nickel.

The cobalt spot test--further insights into its performance and use.

A spot test was recently developed for easy and rapid testing to detect whether cobalt is available on surfaces in contact with skin.