Nickel

Nickel is a hard, rust-resistant metal found in a wide variety of substances, especially in shiny and silvery objects. Nickel is among the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis. Having a body part pierced by a metal containing nickel is one of the most common ways people become allergic to nickel. Metal objects containing nickel are so common that it is difficult to  avoid nickel completely. Body fluids (sweat and saliva) can cause some metals to release nickel. Stainless steel contains nickel, but most types of stainless steel release very little nickel.

Nickel can also be an occupational allergen, commonly affecting workers such as hairdressers, retail workers, food service workers, cleaners, and metal workers.

• Allegheny metal

• Alnico

• Chromel

• Coil alloys

• Constantan

• Monel

• Nichrome

• Nobilium

• Permalloy

• Platenite

• German silver

• Hastelloy

• Illium

• Invar

• Stainless steel

• Ticonium

The additives in these alloys rarely cause contact nickel dermatitis, but since nickel is present, the possibility of dermatitis does exist.

The nickel spot test consists of an ammoniacal solution of Dimethylglyoxime (DMG) which you can use to detect the presence of

nickel in various metallic objects. The spot test detects free nickel down to a limit of 10 ppm (parts/million). Some strongly allergic

patients will however still react to objects releasing amounts below the threshold of the test.

Smart Practice

3400 East McDowell Road

Phoenix, AZ 85008-7899

www.smartpractice.com

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 1-800-878-3837

Fax: 1-800-926-4568

Test kit is called: Reveal & Conceal, Nickel Spot Test™ (Part No. AL8003)

or

Dormer Laboratories Inc

91 Kelfield Street #5

Rexdale, Ontario, M9W 5AQ3

www.dormer211.com

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 416-242-6167

Test kit is called: Chemo Nickel Spot Test (code: NT)