Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Gold contact allergy is common, but its clinical relevance is often uncertain. A previous study of low‐cost gold‐plated earrings found frequent nickel release and detectable gold release under cysteine‐modified artificial sweat.
Objectives
To assess surface composition and release of gold, nickel and copper from jeweller‐purchased earrings marketed as
10K
or
14K
gold.
Methods
Five pairs of earrings were examined by scanning electron microscopy (
SEM
) with energy‐dispersive spectroscopy (
EDS
). Release testing used cysteine‐modified artificial sweat at
pH
8.0 ± 0.2 and 30°C for 168 h. Metals were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (
ICP
‐
MS
).
Results
Surfaces consisted mainly of gold, copper, silver and zinc.
EDS
‐detected gold ranged from 40 to 63 wt%, and nickel from 0.085 to 0.20 wt%. Nickel release was LOD
in all pairs. Gold release was detected from all pairs (median 0.057 μg/cm
2
/week, range: 0.016–0.15). Copper release exceeded gold release in all samples (median: 0.53 μg/cm
2
/week, range: 0.36–2.2).
Conclusion
Jeweller‐purchased
10K
/
14K
gold earrings released measurable gold but not detectable nickel under cysteine‐modified artificial sweat conditions. Gold release provides a plausible exposure pathway but does not establish sensitization or elicitation risk.