Nickel Release
The amount of nickel leaching from jewelry into skin — regulated by EU REACH (EN 1811) at max 0.5 μg/cm²/week to prevent allergic dermatitis.
Last updated: July 6, 2026
Detailed Explanation
Nickel release is the migration of nickel ions from metal jewelry into skin, causing allergic contact dermatitis in sensitized individuals. Approximately 10-20% of the population has nickel allergy — the most common metal allergen. The EU regulates via REACH (EC 1907/2006), enforced through EN 1811:2011+A1:2015, limiting release to 0.5 μg/cm²/week for prolonged skin contact articles. For piercing posts, the limit is stricter: 0.2 μg/cm²/week. Compliance requires nickel-free alloys (palladium-based white gold, surgical stainless steel) or adequate barrier plating. Testing uses artificial sweat immersion followed by ICP analysis.
Common Uses
All jewelry sold in EU markets, piercing jewelry globally.
Advantages
Protects consumer health, legal requirement for EU market access.
Limitations
Testing adds per-batch cost, restricts certain alloy formulations, requires ongoing compliance monitoring.