While applauding the European Union's moves to limit the nickel content of jewellery, and researchers' attempts to develop an accurate test (This Week, 30 January, p 22), I feel that an important fact has been overlooked.
As Alison Motluk pointed out at the beginning of the article, not all nickel exposure occurs through jewellery. People can be "sensitised" to nickel by any skin contactby belt buckles or watches, for instance.
I had never worn nickel-based jewellery when I developed mild dermatitis on my nose. It turned out that my glasses were brass-coated nickel, the brass having been worn away after some years. After I purchased nickel-free frames, the affected skin soon cleared up.
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