Nickel in euro coins up to 320 times above legal limit

Date: 19/09/02

By Martin Banks

SOME euro coins may have to be reminted because of concerns about their safety, warns a senior MEP.

German Socialist Christa Randzio-Plath says she is 'very concerned' following research which shows that high nickel levels, up to 320 above the legal limit, can cause skin complaints.

Researchers from the University of Zurich found that the design of the one and two euro coins - an external ring of metal surrounding an inner 'pill' of a different colour - lead to the release of high levels of metal.

The yellow and white alloys contain different amounts of nickel, copper and zinc, which encourage corrosion as metal ions flow from one alloy to another when exposed to sweat for long periods. The coins could contain between 240 and 320 times the quantity of nickel allowed under the European Union Nickel Directive, according to the scientists.

Randzio-Plath, chairwoman of the economic and monetary affairs committee, said that 'on many occasions' Parliament had pointed out to the Commission and finance ministers the possible dangers of allergies from nickel-based coins.

'We were assured that the new coins would be much safer than the old national coins,' she said.

She has called on the Commission to report on the matter by 1 October.

'We must be told...whether allergies can be contracted from such coins. If this is the case, then there must be a new minting of the coins.'

Some euro coins may have to be reminted because of concerns about their safety, warns senior MEP Christa Randzio-Plath, who says she is “very concerned” following research which shows that high nickel levels, up to 320 above the legal limit, can cause skin complaints.