Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40916139›Full record

ArticleContact dermatitis2025

Nickel and Cobalt Release From Hairdressing Tools in German Barbershops.

Cara Bieck, Kirsten Koopmann, Antje Alberts, Valeska Buder, Grita Schedlbauer, Albert Nienhaus, Christoph Skudlik, Swen Malte John

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Contact dermatitis, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Observational
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Cara BieckDepartment of Dermatology, Environmental Medicine and Health Theory, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4090-6726
Kirsten KoopmannDepartment of Dermatology, Environmental Medicine and Health Theory, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany.
Antje AlbertsDepartment of Dermatology, Environmental Medicine and Health Theory, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6326-5152
Valeska BuderDepartment of Occupational Medicine, Hazardous Substances and Health Sciences, Statutory Accident Insurance for the Health and Welfare Services, Hamburg, Germany.
Grita SchedlbauerDepartment of Occupational Medicine, Hazardous Substances and Health Sciences, Statutory Accident Insurance for the Health and Welfare Services, Hamburg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6219-4022
Albert NienhausDepartment of Occupational Medicine, Hazardous Substances and Health Sciences, Statutory Accident Insurance for the Health and Welfare Services, Hamburg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1881-7302
Christoph SkudlikDepartment of Dermatology, Environmental Medicine and Health Theory, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5670-8396
Swen Malte JohnDepartment of Dermatology, Environmental Medicine and Health Theory, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5406-9458

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNickel and cobalt release from tools has recently been evidenced in German hairdressing salons. Comparable data were not available for German barbershops.

objectivesScreening of tools for nickel and cobalt release. METHODS/MATERIALS: One hundred and forty-one tools were tested in six barbershops located in Lower Saxony, Germany. A nickel spot test (reagent: dimethylglyoxime [CAS no. 95-45-4]) and a cobalt spot test (reagent: nitroso-r salt [disodium-1-nitroso-2-naphthol-3,6-disulphonate; CAS no. 525-05-03]) were used.

results35 of 141 tools overall (24.8%) released nickel and 3 of 141 tools overall (2.1%) released cobalt. Nickel release was found in 10 of 57 hair clippers, 9 of 13 tweezers, 8 of 11 sectioning clips, 3 of 14 straight shavers, 2 of 32 scissors, 2 of 4 tail combs and 1 of 2 shaving brushes. Cobalt release was detected in 2 of 14 straight shavers and 1 of 11 sectioning clips.

conclusionsTools in German barbershops have been identified as occupational sources of nickel and cobalt exposure. Nickel release was observed more frequently. Therefore, it is recommended that compliance with the EU nickel regulation is observed more strictly. In addition, the importance of measures to protect the skin at work should be communicated to barbers, e.g., within health pedagogical measures.

Indexed as

BarberingCobaltDermatitis, OccupationalNickelOccupational ExposureGermanyHumansCobaltNickelallergybarbercobaltGermanyhairdressingnickelspot testtool

Identifiers

PMID40916139
PMCPMC12586278

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.