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Gold and Nickel Release From Gold-Plated Earrings Under Cysteine-Modified Artificial Sweat Conditions
Mikkel Bak Jensen1,2, Malin Glindvad Ahlström1,2, Morten S Jellesen3
1National Allergy Research Centre, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark.
Background:
Contact allergy to gold is frequently observed in patch testing, although with low clinical relevance. Nickel allergy, in contrast, is common, clinically relevant, and nickel release from jewellery remains a regulatory concern. Standardised artificial sweat tests show no detectable gold release from gold-containing jewellery.
Objectives:
To assess surface composition and the release of nickel and gold from gold-plated earrings under clinically relevant biochemical conditions.
Methods:
Ten pairs of low-cost gold-plated earrings were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray fluorescence. Metal release was assessed using a cysteine-modified artificial sweat solution at 30°C for 168 h. Gold and nickel concentrations were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
Results:
Nickel release was detected in 10/10 earrings (median: 2.1 μg/cm2, range: 0.00032-10.0) frequently exceeding the EU regulatory limit. Gold release was detected in 4/10 earrings (median: 0.00092 μg/cm2, range: 0.00041-0.21). Gold was identified by cross-sectional SEM/EDS in a subset of components (6/20) but was not detected by top-down XRF analysis.
Conclusion:
Nickel release from gold-plated earrings was widespread and often exceeded regulatory limits, indicating that gold plating does not reliably prevent nickel exposure. Gold release occurred in some earrings, but the clinical relevance remains uncertain.
