Nickel Testing in Metal Textile Accessories: Detection of Allergic Substances

Nickel Danger in Textile Accessories... What is Nickel Allergy? What are the Effects on Skin?

The Role and Risks of Nickel in Textile Accessories

a. Use of Nickel

Nickel is widely used in textile accessories because of the following properties:

Durability: Nickel plating makes accessories resistant to abrasion and rust.
Aesthetic Appearance: Provides a shiny and decorative surface.
Cost Effectiveness: Provides a durable coating material at low cost.

b. Damages of Nickel

Some of the negative effects of nickel are as follows:

Allergic Reactions: Nickel can cause a skin allergy called contact dermatitis, especially in sensitive skin. This condition is characterized by redness, itching and irritation.
Health Problems: Prolonged contact with nickel can cause more serious skin problems in some people.
Legal Restrictions: Many legal frameworks, such as the European Union's REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation, have introduced rules limiting the release of nickel. Nickel testing is therefore essential for both health and legal compliance.

Purpose of Nickel Testing

Nickel testing is performed to measure the nickel release and content of metal textile accessories. The main purpose of this test:

Protecting consumer health,
To ensure that products comply with international standards,
To comply with legal regulations,
To improve the quality and reliability of products.

Textile accessories are used a lot today; buttons, zippers, snaps, brooches and jewelry such as rings, earrings, necklaces contain heavy metals.

Analysis of Metal Products in General

Nickel Release
Total Cadmium Determination
Determination of Total Lead
Total Heavy Metal Determination
Corrosion Resistance

Surely you have come across people around you who say that they cannot wear fake jewelry and that they are allergic to metal accessories. In general, the cause of this is nickel allergy. The nickel release of metal accessories and jewelry causes skin irritation.

So what is skin irritation?

When nickel in metal accessories comes into contact with the skin, it dissolves quickly with perspiration and causes allergic reactions. Skin irritation may occur with prolonged exposure to this situation.

Daily exposure to nickel in metal accessories and jewelry should not exceed 5 ppm. In case of excess and prolonged contact, allergic effects begin to occur. Today, nickel sensitivity has become an issue that attracts attention with the increased use of nickel-containing imitation jewelry, piercings and products such as buttons, snaps, zippers.

Nanolab Laboratories Group continues to provide services within the scope of Nickel Testing in Metal Textile Accessories. We also provide services in Artificial Leather Product Testing.

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