Appropriate use
| In need of government protection? |
Nickel magazine, Sep. 01 -- Included in this issue of nickel, is a feature report on the use of nickel-containing stainless steel in the
wristwatch manufacturing industry in Switzerland. While the story points out the beneficial aspects of nickel
in this application, it also sheds light on a health issue of continuing concern -- nickel allergic contact
dermatitis. Fortunately, the particular stainless steels used to make the watches described have a very low
level of nickel ion release.
Some nickel-containing materials, however, will not be appropriate for use in products such as jewelry,
watches, clothing items and spectacle frames as they could lead to sensitization and/or dermatitis through
contact with the skin. This can occur if a person comes into direct and prolonged contact with the product
and the product is made of a nickel-containing alloy or stainless steel that releases unreasonable amounts of
nickel ions when exposed to sweat.
The European Union's Directive 94/27/EC places restrictions on the use of these nickel- containing materials. It spells out a specific and complex procedure for testing the release of nickel from products that come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin and sets limits on what is acceptable.
In principle, a government directive is an effective way to reduce the numbers of people who are sensitized to nickel and the incidence of nickel contact dermatitis. However, this particular directive needs to be revisited. By taking an overcautious approach to its implementation, member states could find themselves unnecessarily restricting a wider range of beneficial products than was originally anticipated. This could include coins, keys, various hand implements and various household products such as bathroom fittings, door handles, nuts and bolts and furniture. The public is generally unable to distinguish between the very low risks associated with this type of transient contact with nickel-containing products and the much higher risks associated with articles which are designed to be used in direct and prolonged contact.
Furthermore, by testing the seemingly limitless number of products that use nickel-containing materials in a complex synthetic sweat test, rather than a relatively small (less than 20) number of nickel-containing alloys for nickel release rates, the directive encourages the public to overreact. Thus the rise and popularity of misleading marketing slogans such as "nickel free" and "Ni safe." This overreaction poses a threat to the appropriate and beneficial uses of nickel.
Notwithstanding its support for the objective of the Directive, the Nickel Development Institute (NiDI) is striving to ensure that the directive is not over-interpreted by the individual member states of the EU and that its implementation is more effective.
At the same time, the industry is committed to developing the scientific understanding of the release of nickel from alloys and stainless steels, and their use in skin contact applications and likely exposures. This involves monitoring and responding to incorrect science, misinterpretation and misleading statements.
The nickel industry has also adopted a product stewardship policy that calls for action to ensure effective and targeted regulation and to discourage the inappropriate use of nickel. Our objective is to reduce the number of people who are sensitized to nickel and the incidence of nickel contact dermatitis. In so doing, we will ensure that markets for the appropriate and beneficial uses of nickel are assured.
For a detailed look at the nickel industry's product stewardship policy, please click here.
Additional information on this issue is available free of charge from NiDI.
Photo: TOM SKUDRA
