The AnchorCert Protect Methodology – A potential boon for those who suffer skin allergy
Eight million people are living with skin disease in the UK. Some are manageable; others are severe enough to be fatal. (British Skin Foundation). Approximately 20% of the European population has dermatitis, and 15% of people in the EU have Metal Induced Allergic Contact Dermatitis' (MACD), commonly known as 'Skin Allergy' due to metal contact.
Nickel, Cobalt and Chromium are the top three metal allergens. These metals occur in many products- for example, jewellery, watches, eyewear, textiles, etc. and they are difficult to avoid.
Besides Nickel, Cobalt and Chromium, several other transition metals are now of growing concern amongst dermatologists for their capability to act as allergens under certain circumstances; they include Gold, Mercury, Beryllium, Palladium, Platinum, Manganese, Aluminium, Copper, Iron, Molybdenum, Tin, Titanium and Zinc.
Various European survey results suggest that earrings are the leading cause of metal-induced skin allergy, followed by other items of jewellery, buttons on clothing, wrist-watches, belt buckles and zips.
The AnchorCert Laboratory in the Birmingham Assay Office is a leading metal allergen testing specialist that offers the unique AnchorCert Protect test. This test helps to reduce the risk of the general public becoming sensitised to allergen metals and their alloys present in both metallic and non-metallic parts of finished articles that are placed on the market for consumer use.
The AnchorCert Protect test methodology measures the release concentration of the known 16 potential metallic skin sensitisers (Ni, Cr, Co, Au, Hg, Be, Pd, Pt, Mn, Al, Cu, Fe, Mo, Sn, Ti, Zn) and provides an accurate measurement of their sensitisation potential based on their reaction with a novel sweat and the formation of soluble metal ions. The test procedure also ensures that the test sample identified as compliant by AnchorCert Protect –shall also be compliant for Nickel when tested by EN1811 + A1:2015 method, as Nickel is the leading cause of skin allergy amongst the European population.
Contrary to the EN1811:2015 – Nickel release test, which is only applicable to metallic components, the AnchorCert Protect test is applicable to all components made of polymeric, metallic and inorganic non-metallic materials, including textile and leather that are intended to come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin.
AnchorCert Protect Methodology is proving to be a potential boon for those suffering from skin allergies from jewellery and similar products. This unique test defines the standard in Allergy Protection. Look for the AnchorCert Protect mark for freedom from metal-induced skin allergies.
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Dippal Manchanda, Technical Director and Chief Assayer of the Birmingham Assay Office and Anchorcert Group, is personally active in research on metal allergy and metal testing. Dippal Chair the British Standards Institution (BSI) STI/53 – jewellery and horology committee. He is a member and UK representative of CEN/TC 347/Task Group1 responsible for revising EN1811- Nickel release test standard and a member of the ISO/TC 174/WG 1 committee on jewellery.
Dippal holds a master’s degree (MSc) in inorganic chemistry. He has over 35 years of experience in assaying and examining precious/non-precious metals, alloys, and hazardous substances in jewellery, consumer goods, and accessories. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC), a Chartered Chemist (CChem), and a Chartered Scientist (CSci). He has been involved in several prestigious projects related to metal testing, metal allergy, and precious metal refining.
He has written, contributed to, and published a range of peer-reviewed scientific papers and presented at numerous international conferences during his career.