title: Cobalt, nickel and chromium release from dental tools and alloys.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cobalt-chromium alloys are used as casting alloys by dental technicians when producing dental prostheses and implants. Skin exposure and metal release from alloys and tools used by the dental technicians have not been studied previously.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the release of cobalt, nickel and chromium from alloys and tools that come into contact with the skin of dental technicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cobalt and nickel release from tools and alloys was tested with the cobalt spot test and the dimethylglyoxime test for nickel. Also, the release of cobalt, nickel and chromium in artificial sweat (EN1811) at different time-points was assessed. Analysis was performed with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-one tools were spot tested; 20% released nickel and 23% released cobalt. Twenty-one tools and five dental alloys were immersed in artificial sweat. All tools released cobalt, nickel and chromium. The ranges were 0.0047-820, 0.0051-10 and 0.010-160 µg/cm(2) /week for cobalt, nickel and chromium, respectively. All dental alloys released cobalt in artificial sweat, with a range of 0.0010-17 µg/cm(2) /week, and they also released nickel and chromium at low concentrations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sensitizing metals are released from tools and alloys used by dental technicians. This may cause contact allergy and hand eczema.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jolinde A B
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kettelarij
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lidén
authors.forename: Emmy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Axén
authors.forename: Anneli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Julander
mesh_terms: D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D003035:Cobalt / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D003762:Dental Instruments; D003800:Dental Technicians; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D013542:Sweat / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003722:Dental Alloys; D002857:Chromium; D003035:Cobalt; D009532:Nickel
keywords: allergy; alloy; chromium; cobalt; dental technicians; metal release; nickel; occupational