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http://www.guardian.co.uk/euro/story/0,11306,790534,00.html
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Scientists count cost of
euro allergy James Meek, science correspondent Thursday September 12, 2002 The Guardian Anxious Andrés, jiggling change in their pockets as they wait for the bus; fidgety Françoises, compulsively making piles of euros on their desks; eager Eduardos, running off to the pastry shop with coins clutched in their sweaty little fists - all should beware the toxic ring and pill. Today Swiss scientists reveal just how allergenic the euro coins are to those suffering from nickel allergy, a relatively common syndrome. Writing in Nature, researchers at Zurich University's dermatology department said that one and two euro coins released more nickel than pure nickel itself. The amounts released were up to 320 times higher than those permitted by EU rules for prolonged contact with human skin. "Whether or not this is acceptable by European standards hinges on the meaning of prolonged contact," the scientists said. In skin tests with both coins taped to their skin seven volunteers known to suffer nickel allergies experienced redness of the skin and the formation of vesicles, blisters like those seen in chicken pox. Both coins are made up of two kinds of metal, a central "pill" and an outer "ring". One part is yellow nickel brass - copper, zinc and 5% nickel - the other white cupro-nickel, which is 75% copper and 25% nickel. The Swiss team found that when combined with human sweat the coins acted like weak batteries, with a current flowing through the sweat between the two alloys. The current causes the metals to corrode more quickly, releasing more nickel. When the scientists suspended a one euro coin in "artificial human sweat" it turned brown and began to erode. However, this was after 36 hours' exposure. A spokesman for the European Central Bank said that matters of coins and notes were dealt with by a European commission body called the mint directors' working group. Asked by the Guardian whether the commission had taken or might take any action over the nickel problem, Anne Ropers, secretary of the group's board office, said: "I am not entitled to comment." Special reports The euro European integration British politics and the euro Currency converter Find out what your cash is worth abroad See the new currency Photo gallery: know your euro notes and coins Map A graphical guide to euroland Talk about it Should Britain join the single currency? Useful links Official euro site Britain in Europe UK Independence party No-euro.com A chronology of economic and monetary union (EU) Quest database: your euro questions answered (EU)
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Guardian Unlimited © Guardian
Newspapers Limited 2002
ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND
MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION
PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS
OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR
LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND
COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH
YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
