What to test for Nickel

Nickel legislation applies to all items which are intended to come into prolonged and direct contact with the skin.  The specific products cited in the UK regulations include

• earrings:
• necklaces, bracelets, chains, anklets and finger rings;
• wrist-watch cases, watch straps and tighteners;
• rivet buttons, tighteners, rivets, zippers and metal marks, contained in or intended to be used in garments.

This list is not exhaustive and suppliers should consider all items such as buckles for shoes and belts, handbag straps and handles, hair clips, ear pieces etc and assess whether or not the item, or any part of it will be in prolonged and direct contact with the skin during its normal,  intended use.

Nickel sensitisation usually occurs as a result of nickel being released from an item inserted through a body piercing and entering the body.  The testing of all post assemblies intended for use in any sort of body piercing is therefore very important.  Since September 2005, the regulations have required post assemblies to comply to a more rigorous level of nickel release than other items ie 0.2 micrograms .of nickel per square centimetre per week as opposed to 0.5 for items which are intended to come into prolonged and direct contact with the skin.

As Nickel testing is destructive, lengthy and expensive there is no question of each item being individually tested. Instead a supplier must take all reasonable steps to ensure that his product complies with the regulations which would normally include some level of sampling and testing.