Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume 61, Issue 5 , Pages 799-805 , November 2009

Prevalence of nickel and cobalt allergy among female patients with dermatitis before and after Danish government regulation: A 23-year retrospective study

,Accepted 25 March 2009.

References 

  1. Thyssen JP, Linneberg A, Menne T, Johansen JD. The epidemiology of contact allergy in the general population–prevalence and main findings. Contact Dermatitis. 2007;57:287–299
  2. Hindsen M, Bruze M, Christensen OB. Individual variation in nickel patch test reactivity. Am J Contact Dermat. 1999;10:62–67
  3. Edman B, Moller H. Trends and forecasts for standard allergens in a 12-year patch test material. Contact Dermatitis. 1982;8:95–104
  4. Marcussen PV. Variations in the incidence of contact hypersensitivities. Trans St Johns Hosp Dermatol Soc. 1962;48:40–48
  5. Menne T, Rasmussen K. Regulation of nickel exposure in Denmark. Contact Dermatitis. 1990;23:57–58
  6. Fischer T, Fregert S, Gruvberger B, Rystedt I. Nickel release from ear piercing kits and earrings. Contact Dermatitis. 1984;10:39–41
  7. Menne T, Brandup F, Thestrup-Pedersen K, Veien NK, Andersen JR, Yding F, et al. Patch test reactivity to nickel alloys. Contact Dermatitis. 1987;16:255–259
  8. European Communities. European Dir. 94/27/EC of 30 June 1994 amending for the 12th time Dir. 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 dangerous substances. Official J Eur Communities. 1994;37:1–2
  9. Vilaplana J, Grimalt F, Romaguera C, Mascaro JM. Cobalt content of household cleaning products. Contact Dermatitis. 1987;16:139–141
  10. Basketter DA, Briatico-Vangosa G, Kaestner W, Lally C, Bontinck WJ. Nickel, cobalt and chromium in consumer products: a role in allergic contact dermatitis?. Contact Dermatitis. 1993;28:15–25
  11. Basketter DA, Angelini G, Ingber A, Kern PS, Menne T. Nickel, chromium and cobalt in consumer products: revisiting safe levels in the new millennium. Contact Dermatitis. 2003;49:1–7
  12. Ruff CA, Belsito DV. The impact of various patient factors on contact allergy to nickel, cobalt, and chromate. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;55:32–39
  13. Meijer C, Bredberg M, Fischer T, Widstrom L. Ear piercing, and nickel and cobalt sensitization, in 520 young Swedish men doing compulsory military service. Contact Dermatitis. 1995;32:147–149
  14. Lidén C, Bruze M, Menne T. Metals. In:  Frosch PJ,  Menne T,  Lepoittevin J-P editor. Contact dermatitis. Fourth ed. Berlin: Springer; 2006;p. 537–568
  15. Liden C, Wahlberg JE. Cross-reactivity to metal compounds studied in guinea pigs induced with chromate or cobalt. Acta Derm Venereol. 1994;74:341–343
  16. Lammintausta K, Pitkanen OP, Kalimo K, Jansen CT. Interrelationship of nickel and cobalt contact sensitization. Contact Dermatitis. 1985;13:148–152
  17. Hindsen M, Persson L, Gruvberger B. Allergic contact dermatitis from cobalt in jewelry. Contact Dermatitis. 2005;53:350–351
  18. Wilkinson DS, Fregert S, Magnusson B, Bandmann HJ, Calnan CD, Cronin E, et al. Terminology of contact dermatitis. Acta Derm Venereol. 1970;50:287–292
  19. Nielsen NH, Linneberg A, Menne T, Madsen F, Frolund L, Dirksen A, et al. Persistence of contact allergy among Danish adults: an 8-year follow-up study. Contact Dermatitis. 2001;45:350–353
  20. Bone A, Ncube F, Nichols T, Noah ND. Body piercing in England: a survey of piercing at sites other than earlobe. BMJ. 2008;336:1426–1428
  21. Ehrlich A, Kucenic M, Belsito DV. Role of body piercing in the induction of metal allergies. Am J Contact Dermat. 2001;12:151–155
  22. Thyssen JP, Hald M, Avnstorp C, Veien N, Lauerberg G, Nielsen NH, et al. Characteristics of nickel allergic dermatitis patients seen in private dermatology clinics in Denmark: a questionnaire study. Acta Derm Venereol. In press.
  23. Veien NK, Hattel T, Laurberg G. Reduced nickel sensitivity in young Danish women following regulation of nickel exposure. Contact Dermatitis. 2001;45:104–106
  24. Jensen CS, Lisby S, Baadsgaard O, Volund A, Menne T. Decrease in nickel sensitization in a Danish schoolgirl population with ears pierced after implementation of a nickel-exposure regulation. Br J Dermatol. 2002;146:636–642
  25. Fischer LA, Menne T, Johansen JD. Experimental nickel elicitation thresholds–a review focusing on occluded nickel exposure. Contact Dermatitis. 2005;52:57–64
  26. Thyssen JP, Johansen JD, Zachariae C, Menne T. The outcome of dimethylglyoxime testing in a sample of cell phones in Denmark. Contact Dermatitis. 2008;59:38–42
  27. Liden C, Rondell E, Skare L, Nalbanti A. Nickel release from tools on the Swedish market. Contact Dermatitis. 1998;39:127–131
  28. Liden C, Skare L, Nise G, Vahter M. Deposition of nickel, chromium, and cobalt on the skin in some occupations–assessment by acid wipe sampling. Contact Dermatitis. 2008;58:347–354
  29. Bocca B, Forte G, Senofonte O, Violante N, Paoletti L, De BB, et al. A pilot study on the content and the release of Ni and other allergenic metals from cheap earrings available on the Italian market. Sci Total Environ. 2007;388:24–34
  30. Dilling S, Soerensen S, Roennekamp S. Ulovligt nikkel i hvert 10.smykke [Illegal nickel content in every 10th jewelry]. Copenhagen: Forburgerrådet [The Danish Consumer Council]; 2004.
  31. Schnuch A, Uter W. Decrease in nickel allergy in Germany and regulatory interventions. Contact Dermatitis. 2003;49:107–108
  32. Liden C, Johnsson S. Nickel on the Swedish market before the Nickel Directive. Contact Dermatitis. 2001;44:7–12
  33. Liden C, Norberg K. Nickel on the Swedish market: follow-up after implementation of the Nickel Directive. Contact Dermatitis. 2005;52:29–35
  34. Rietschel RL, Fowler JF, Warshaw EM, Belsito D, DeLeo VA, Maibach HI, et al. Detection of nickel sensitivity has increased in North American patch-test patients. Dermatitis. 2008;19:16–19
  35. Byer TT, Morrell DS. Periumbilical allergic contact dermatitis: blue jeans or belt buckles?. Pediatr Dermatol. 2004;21:223–226
  36. Suneja T, Flanagan KH, Glaser DA. Blue-jean button nickel: prevalence and prevention of its release from buttons. Dermatitis. 2007;18:208–211
  37. Thyssen JP, Maibach HI. Nickel release from earrings purchased in the United States: the San Francisco earring study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008;58:1000–1005
  38. Heim KE, McKean BA. Children's clothing fasteners as a potential source of exposure to releasable nickel ions. Contact Dermatitis. 2009;60:100–105
  39. Goon AT, Goh CL. Metal allergy in Singapore. Contact Dermatitis. 2005;52:130–132
  40. Fischer T, Rystedt I. False-positive, follicular and irritant patch test reactions to metal salts. Contact Dermatitis. 1985;12:93–98
  41. Fischer T, Rystedt I. Cobalt allergy in hard metal workers. Contact Dermatitis. 1983;9:115–121
  42. Rystedt I. Evaluation and relevance of isolated test reactions to cobalt. Contact Dermatitis. 1979;5:233–238

 Supported by the Copenhagen County Research Foundation.

 Conflicts of interest: None declared.

PII: S0190-9622(09)00387-9

doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2009.03.030

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume 61, Issue 5 , Pages 799-805 , November 2009

Article Tools