Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: EvaH on 07/01/2021 17:46:12

Title: Are humans more allergic to nickel than other metals?
Post by: EvaH on 07/01/2021 17:46:12

Alice asks:

Is nickel more allergenic than other metals, and if so why, or is it the way we use it that results in people having skin reactions to it?

Can you help?

Title: Re: Are humans more allergic to nickel than other metals?
Post by: Halc on 07/01/2021 17:59:21

Quote from: Alice on 07/01/2021 17:46:12

Is nickel more allergenic than other metals, and if so why, or is it the way we use it that results in people having skin reactions to it?

Only some people have Nickel reactions (and brass, other metals), but as far as I know, all have a bad reaction (death?) from prolonged exposure to say Mercury or Plutonium on the skin, so I would certainly not put Nickel at the top of that list.

Title: Re: Are humans more allergic to nickel than other metals?
Post by: Bored chemist on 07/01/2021 18:27:06

Quote from: Halc on 07/01/2021 17:59:21

but as far as I know, all have a bad reaction (death?) from prolonged exposure to say Mercury or Plutonium on the skin,

That's not an allergic reaction.
My guess is that nickel is particularly allergenic because it forms square planar complexes.

Title: Re: Are humans more allergic to nickel than other metals?
Post by: set fair on 25/01/2021 22:05:11

Pretty sure Nickel allergy is the most common metal allergy (by a long way) but there may be others that we virtually never come into contact with.