OBJECTIVE: To evaluate frequently used nickel products in Brazil. We investigated if these objects release nickel that is capable of inducing sensitization or cause clinical manifestations in terms of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD).
METHODS: Dimethylglyoxime (DMG) spot tests assessed nickel release from several common utensils used in everyday life in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
RESULTS: We tested 46 coins (two denominations) and 90 common utensils. Approximately 91.1% produced nickel-positive results using the DMG spot test.
CONCLUSIONS: The DMG limit of detection was 1.67 ppm of nickel. We observed that many objects in our test series released nickel above the DMG test limit. This observation suggests that nickel-sensitive individuals may be exposed to nickel, representing a public health issue.