Nickel, chromium and cobalt sensitization in a patch test population in north‐eastern Italy (1996–2010)

Abstract

Our study showed a decreasing trend of nickel sensitization (only among younger women) and of chromium sensitization in both sexes.

Allergic contact dermatitis and changes in the frequency of the causative allergens demonstrated with patch testing in 2008-2012

“…These data are consistent with the outcomes of other studies carried out in the Czech Republic and other European countries, and are largely the result of wearing inexpensive jewellery [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] . A high prevalence of sensitisation to nickel since the end of the 1980s in Nordic countries was due to the introduction of preventive measures aimed to limit the release of nickel from objects in direct contact with skin.…”

“…2,24 ). According to some studies, positive results of these measures to reduce the incidence of contact allergy to chromium in workers in construction have been noted 9,24 .…”

“…Higher frequencies of ACD caused by chromium in the male population are common, although the difference in the incidence of hypersensitivity to chromium in men and women was not statistically significant. Men are often sensitised by contact with hexavalent chromium contained in cement 2,9,24 . To reduce the risk of sensitisation, regulatory measures were adopted by which ferrous sulphate is added to cement to reduce the content of hexavalent chromium.…”

“…[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] ). Allergy to cobalt occurs less commonly as monovalent, and more often as a combined allergy: with nickel in women and chromium in men [9][10][11] . After the introduction of regulatory measures by the EU to replace nickel by cobalt in inexpensive jewellery, there was legitimate concern that in parallel with a reduction in the frequency of sensitization to nickel there could be a significant increase in sensitivity to cobalt.…”

“…2) (ref. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] ). This may perhaps be due to the higher sensitising potential of Kathon CG in comparison with other substances with regard to its widespread use, since exposure to individual products should not be fundamentally different.…”