Nickel dermatitis

Eye and Skin Contact. Some nickel salts and aqueous solutions of these salts, eg, the sulfate and chloride, may cause a primary irritant reaction of the eye and skin. The most common effect of dermal exposure to nickel is allergic contact dermatitis. Nickel dermatitis may occur in sensitized individuals following close and prolonged contact with nickel-containing solutions or metallic objects such as jewelry, particularly pierced earrings. It is estimated that 8—15% of the female human population and 0.2—2% of the male human population is nickel-sensitized (125). 

Although most nickel sensitization results from nonoccupational exposures, nickel dermatitis was historically a problem in workplaces where there was a high risk of continuous contact with soluble nickel, eg, in electroplating (qv) shops. Improved personal and industrial hygiene has largely eliminated this problem. However, there are a few occupations involving wet nickel work, particularly where detergents faciUtate the penetration of skin by nickel, where hand eczema may occur (126). 

Samitz, M. H. and Katz, S. A. Nickel Dermatitis Hazards from Prostheses , British Journal of Dermatology, 92, 287-290 (1975)... 

Low nickel diet fed to patients with chronic nickel dermatitis Significant improvement in 6 weeks adverse effects when placed on normal diet 10... 

The most commonly observed toxic reaction to nickel and nickel compounds in the general human population is nickel dermatitis and skin sensitivity arising from dermal contact with metals containing nickel (Sunderman 1970 NAS 1975 Norseth and Piscator 1979 USEPA 1980, 1986 WHO 1991 USPHS 1993). Studies on occupational dermatitis, which is the most prevalent... 

Humans have been exposed to nickel in nickel mines and processing plants, and numerous epidemiology studies have been performed to assess the cause of death in these workers. Accidental ingestion of nickel also has been documented in a small child and in electroplating workers. Nickel dermatitis is the most prevalent effect of nickel in humans. 

Fischer T. 1989. Occupational nickel dermatitis. In Maibach HI, Menne T, eds. Nickel and the skin Immunology and toxicology. Boca Raton, FL CRC Press, Inc., 117-132. 

Gawkrodger DJ, Cook SW, Fell GS, et al. 1986. Nickel dermatitis The reaction to oral nickel challenge. Br J Dermatol 115 33-38. 

Ho VC, Johnston MM. 1986. Nickel dermatitis in infants. Contact Dermatitis 15 270-273. 

Kaaber K, Veinen NK, Tjell JC. 1978. Low nickel diet in the treatment of patients with chronic nickel dermatitis. Br J Dermatol 98 197-201. 

Meime T. 1994. Quantitative aspects of nickel dermatitis Sensitization and eliciting threshold concentrations. Sci Total Environ 148 275-281. 

Menne T, Thorboe A. 1976. Nickel dermatitis—nickel excretion. Contact Dermatitis 2 353-354. 

Menne T, Christophersen J, Green A. 1989. Epidemiology of nickel dermatitis. In Maibach HI,... 

Wall LM, Calnan CD. 1980. Occupational nickel dermatitis in the electroforming industry. Contact Dermatitis 6 414-420. 

Low nickel diet ted to patients with chronic nickel dermatitis... 

The other major toxic effect of nickel is nickel dermatitis, an allergic contact dermatitis arising from contact with nickel metal. About 5 to 10% of people are susceptible to this disorder. It almost always occurs as the result of wearing nickel jewelry in contact with skin. Nickel carbonyl, Ni(CO)4, is an extremely toxic nickel compound discussed further in Chapter 12. 

Fluid replacement is indicated in the case of ingestion causing serious vomiting and diarrhea. For inhalation exposures, the patient should be moved to fresh air, and be provided with symptomatic and supportive treatment. Diethyldithiocarbamate is the chelating agent of choice. Disulfiram has been used to clear cases of nickel dermatitis. 

Marcussen PV (1957) Occupational nickel dermatitis. Rise in incidence and prevention. Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh) 2 289-295. 

Excess nickel found lethal to animals under controlled conditions Skin dermatitis in humans caused by chemicals used in nickel plating Extraordinary toxicity of nickel carbonyl (Ni(CO)4) established Excess nickel found lethal to plants Nickel dermatitis documented... 

The main constituents of sweat are chlorides (0.3-3.0 g/1), urea (0.12-0.57 g/1) and lactic acid (0.45-4.5 g/1). When metallic objects come in contact with skin corrosion may occur, and if the corrosion products are toxic or irritating they may originate contact dermatitis. The most common example is dermatitis caused by nickel-containing jewelry. In North America ca. 10% of men and women have a history of nickel dermatitis (Randin, 1988). Although the degree of sensitization may not be directly... 

SoLTERMANN, W. Toxic epidermal necrolysis (LyelL). Syndrom oder besonders schwere Verlaufsform einer Allergodermie Dermatologica (Basel) 118, 265—278 (1959). Stewart, S. G., and F. E. Cormia Experimental nickel dermatitis. J. Allergy 5,575-582 (1934). Vandenberg, j. j., and W. L. Epstein Experimental nickel contact sensitization in man. J. invest. Derm. 41, 413—418 (1963). 

Thyssen JP, Menn6 T, Johansen JD. Identification of metallic items that caused nickel dermatitis in Danish patients. Contact Dermatitis 2010 63(3) 151-6. 

Buckley WR (1958) Lichenoid eruptions following contact dermatitis. Arch Dermatol 78 454-457 Calnan CD (1956) Nickel dermatitis. Br J Dermatol 68 229-232 Calnan CD, Peachey RDG (1971) Allergic contact purpura. Clin Allergy 1 287-290... 

Marks R, Dykes PJ, Hamami I (1989) Two novel techniques for the evaluation of barrier creams. Br J Dermatol 120 655-660 Menne T (1995) Prevention of nickel dermatitis. Allergologie... 

Nickel allergy is the most frequent contact allergy in the industrialised world and an important cause of hand eczema. Nickel allergy predominantly affects young girls and women sensitised by jewellery and other personal items. A hundred years ago, however, nickel dermatitis was an occupational disease that affected men. Occupational exposure to this metal is still a major factor in eliciting and maintaining hand eczema. 

Some of the most important jobs and exposures with risk of occupational contact dermatitis due to nickel, and probably primary sensitisation, are described below and in Table 3. Recent publications on occupational nickel dermatitis are added to the extensive review by Fischer (1989) and by Cavelier and Fousser-eau (1995). 

Dermatitis due to nickel exposure was reported among platers in 1889 and, until 1930, nickel dermatitis was a frequent male occupational disease in the plating industry (Blaschko 1889 Schwarz et al. 1957). Since... 

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