[Jewelry making - Article 00306] - Re: [Orchid] White gold, boom or bubble?

[James Binnion]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

>     Another completely different aspect of the metal color
>     consideration is the rumour that I have heard about the possibility
>     of making nickel white gold illegal because of the presumed
>     toxicity of nickel. I have had a problem with this inasmuch as
>     nickel is a common ingredient of stainless steel in cookware and,
>     presumably, in surgical steel. My take on this matter is that the
>     Europeans don't permit the use of white gold for the aforementioned
>     reason. Does anyone have a better insight into this consideration ? 

    I have not heard about any push to make nickel white gold illegal
    here in the US. In the EU countries it is not just jewelry that is
    affected it is anything that comes in contact with the body like
    eyeglass frames and buttons. The law does not make nickel illegal it
    does specify the amount of nickel that may be released from the
    product. If the release rate is less than the specified amount then
    there is no problem. I don't know if cookware and eating utensils
    are 

    covered by this law. But the component in stainless that makes it
    stainless is chromium and it forms a hard transparent oxide layer on
    properly passivated stainless steel that effectively seals its
    surface. This is what makes it rust resistant and also limits its
    nickel release. 

    Nickel and its compounds are not just presumed toxic they are toxic,
    also they are listed either as known carcinogen or suspected
    carcinogens and are toxic by all routes of exposure (breathing, skin
    contact and ingestion). 

    These are from some nickel MSDS's 

          Nickel (Ni) Exposure Limits: TLV 1.50 mg/m3 (as metal,
          inhalable Fraction) PEL 1.00 mg/m3 (metal and insoluble
          compounds as Ni) CAS No.: 7440-02-0 The U.S. Toxicology
          Program has listed nickel and seven nickel compounds as
          carcinogens. The IARC lists nickel compounds as carcinogenic to
          humans and metallic nickel as possibly carcinogenic to humans.
          Nickel may produce allergic reactions. 

          Nickel is the essential alloying element. Nickel is classified
          in EC Directive 67/548/EEC as a suspect carcinogen (category 3
          R40) and as a skin sensitiser (R43). 

          The classification rules of EC Directive 99/45/EC dictate that
          any preparations with equal to or more than 1% content of
          nickel must automatically be classified as suspect carcinogens
          (R40) and skin sensitisers (R43). 

          Description of hazards 

          Prolonged skin contact with nickel alloys may result in an
          allergic dermatological reaction. If prolonged skin contact is
          involved in the processing of this product, please contact the
          supplier for advice. There are normally no hazards to man or
          the environment from preparations in the massive form they are
          supplied. Dust and fume may be generated during processing
          e.g. in welding, cutting and grinding. If airborne
          concentrations of dust and fume are excessive, inhalation over
          long periods may affect workers' health, primarily of the
          lungs. 

James Binnion
jbin AT mokume-gane.com
James Binnion Metal Arts
http://www.mokume-gane.com
360-756-6550
____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________