"Euro Coins Could Cause Skin Disease"
November 24, 2001 3:23 AM   Subscribe

"Euro Coins Could Cause Skin Disease" Obviously Lex Luthor is behind this and wants Europeans to throw away their change so he can gather it up and be rich, Rich, RICH! (maniacal laugh).
posted by Outlawyr (8 comments total)
 
Patient Information - Nickel Allergy page, with photographs of dermatitis, which warns: "It is essential to avoid contact with nickel-containing metals." Hard to do, if nickel coins are in circulation. By comparison, the U.S.A.'s "nickel" five-cent coin is composed of an alloy containing 75 percent copper and only 25 percent nickel. Contact dermatitis is no laughing matter.
posted by Carol Anne at 5:58 AM on November 24, 2001


A fine example of why the Euro is a BAD thing!
posted by stevridie at 6:05 AM on November 24, 2001


This could give new meaning to the term, "I've got some money in my hand I'm just itching to spend."
posted by MAYORBOB at 6:17 AM on November 24, 2001


The Canadian 5-cent piece is pure nickel, which is why it sticks to a magnet. Does anyone know if there's been a plague of skin disease in Canada? (If so, I sure never heard of it.)
posted by Steven Den Beste at 6:28 AM on November 24, 2001


It seems most people would know that they are allergic to certain metals. Is this an information update for those who have said affliction? The by-line is comic . (lex luther, thats cool:)
posted by clavdivs at 7:37 AM on November 24, 2001


From Trends of Nickel in Coins – Past, Present and Future: "I must not forget Canada. In 1968, this major nickel-producing country changed from silver to pure nickel for its 10, 25 and 50 cent coins as well as the one Dollar, although I should mention it has now changed to nickel-plated steel for these coins to counter the effects of inflation. Like the US "Nickel" the Canadian 5-cent coin was made of cupro-nickel until last year when it, too, changed to nickel-plated steel."

"Some 12-15% of women and 1-2% of men are believed to be nickel-sensitive...But what of nickel containing coins? Undoubtedly, nickel and cupro-nickel coins will fail the standard sweat test, but do they present a real risk? The difficulty in fully answering this question is that there is almost a total absence of medical data* to indicate there is a problem. But perhaps that, in itself, provides us with the answer? Although I have heard it stated that occupationally exposed people such as cashiers can experience dermatitis from coin handling, documentary evidence is very sparse indeed which suggests that if there is a problem, it is only those people who are highly nickel sensitive and occupationally exposed, who are at risk."

*If medical data is not sought, it will be notable only for its absence.
posted by Carol Anne at 8:50 AM on November 24, 2001


golly gee, I break out in skin rashes, lets see...chemicals...no....clothes...no...must be something else. maybe i should go to a doctor.
posted by clavdivs at 11:14 AM on November 24, 2001


You are aware the Lex Luthor is the President Of The United States and would never do such a thing? Right?
posted by owillis at 5:39 PM on November 24, 2001


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