Nickel deposited on the skin-visualization by DMG test

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Allergy Research
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Nickel allergy is a primary cause of contact dermatitis and hand eczema.
• Effective visualization of nickel exposure is crucial for understanding its role in skin conditions.
• The dimethylglyoxime (DMG) test is a potential method for detecting skin nickel exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and assess methods for visualizing nickel on skin using the DMG test and hand imprints.
• To evaluate the sensitivity and applicability of the DMG test for nickel detection.
• To explore the utility of hand imprints for nickel exposure assessment.

Main Methods:

• Application of varying nickel concentrations on healthy subjects' hands.
• Performance of the DMG test and acid wipe sampling for nickel quantification.
• Collection of hand imprints after handling nickel-releasing tools and during work tasks in occupational settings.

Main Results:

• The DMG test yielded positive results for all subjects, indicating nickel presence.
• The minimum detectable nickel concentration on skin using the DMG test was 0.13 µg/cm(2).
• DMG test-developed hand imprints were effective, though performance decreased with heavy contamination.

Conclusions:

• The DMG test serves as a straightforward and potent tool for visualizing nickel on the skin.
• DMG test-developed hand imprints offer potential for future semi-quantitative or quantitative nickel exposure assessment.