Nickel Directive
 European Union directive:
| |
| Directive 94/27/EC | |
|---|---|
| European Parliament and Council Directive 94/27/EC of 30 June 1994 amending for the 12th time Directive 76/769/EEC on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations | |
| (Text with EEA relevance) | |
| Made by | European Parliament and Council |
| Made under | Art. 100a (EC) |
| Journal reference | |
| History | |
| Made | 30 June 1994 |
| Came into force | 30 June 1994 |
| Implementation date | 30 December 1994 |
| Preparative texts | |
| Commission proposal | COM (1993) 134 final, C116, 27.4.1993, p. 18 |
| EESC opinion | C304, 10.11.1993, p. 2 |
| EP opinion | 2 December 1993, C342, 20.12.1993, p. 15 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | Dir. 76/769/EEC |
| Amended by | Dir. 2004/96/EC |
| Replaced by | § 27, Ann. XVII, Reg. (EC) No 1907/2006 |
| Status: Repealed | |
The Nickel Directive was a European Union directive regulating the use of nickel in jewellery and other products that come into contact with the skin. Since 1 June 2009, it has been subsumed into the REACH Regulation, specifically item 27 of Annex XVII to that regulation.
Allergy to nickel is a common cause of contact dermatitis, with roughly 10% of the population in Western Europe and North America being sensitive to nickel.[1][2][3] Initial sensitization frequently occurs from jewellery such as ear studs and other body piercings, and nickel allergy is more prevelant among women than men. Once sensitized, an individual can develop contact dermatitis from shorter term contact with nickel-containing products: this is a particular problem given the use of nickel in coinage,[4] such as the European one- and two-euro coins,[5] and the Canadian five-cent piece.[note 1] This lead to moves to prevent the initial sensitization of jewellery wearers by limiting the use of nickel in piercing studs and other products which are in prolonged contact with the skin.
The Nickel Directive imposes limits on the amount of nickel that may be released from jewellery and other products intended to come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin. These limits, known as migration limits, are:
- 0.2 µg/cm2/week for post assemblies which are inserted into pierced ears and other pierced parts of the human body;[note 2]
- 0.5 µg/cm2/week for other products intended to come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin.
Nickel release is measured by a test method known as EN 1811, which involves placing the object in an artificial sweat solution for one week, then measuring nickel by atomic absorption spectroscopy or any other appropriate technique (eg ICP–MS). Other, equivalent test methods may also be accepted.[6] Wear and corrosion can be simulated by a method known as EN 12472.
Notes and references
Notes
- ↑ Dispite its common name of "nickel", the U.S. five-cent piece is minted from cupronickel, an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel, which is tolerated much better by nickel-sensitive individuals.
- ↑ The original Nickel Directive imposed a limit on the amount of nickel which could be used in post assemblies (mass fraction < 0.05%). This was modified to a migration limit in 2004.
References
- ↑ Schäfer, T.; Böhler, E.; Ruhdorfer, S.; Weigl, L.; Wessner, D.; Filipiak, B.; Wichmann, H. E.; Ring, J. Epidemiology of contact allergy in adults. Allergy 2001, 56 (12), 1192–96. PMID 11736749.
- ↑ Krob, H. A.; Fleischer, A. B., Jr.; D'Agostino, R., Jr.; Haverstock, C. L.; Feldman, S. Prevalence and relevance of contact dermatitis allergens: a meta-analysis of 15 years of published T.R.U.E. test data. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 2004, 51 (3), 349–53. PMID 15337975.
- ↑ Thyssen, J. P.; Linneberg, A.; Menné, T.; Johansen, J. D. The epidemiology of contact allergy in the general population—prevalence and main findings. Contact Dermatitis 2007, 57 (5), 287–99. PMID 17937743. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0536.2007.01220.x.
- ↑ Gollhausen, R.; Ring, J. Allergy to coined money: nickel contact dermatitis in cashiers. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 1991, 25 (2 Pt 2), 365–69. PMID 1832693. DOI: 10.1016/0190-9622(91)70206-H.
- ↑ O., Nestle; H., Speidel; M. O., Speidel High nickel release from 1- and 2-euro coins. Nature 2002, 419, 132. DOI: 10.1038/419132a.
- ↑ Quick Nickel Test; Birmingham Assay Office, <http://www.theassayoffice.co.uk/quick_nickel_test.html>. (accessed 12 October 2011).
External links
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