Nathaniel McCord, one of the folks who keep our F-16s floating along, and one of the tiny cadre of Possumblog readers, sends a link to the following story, noting that it gives a whole new meaning to "burning a hole in your pocket."

Study Shows Some People Allergic to Euro Coins

The study by scientists at the University of Zurich showed that one- and two-euro coins released large quantities of nickel if left in prolonged contact with the skin.

Nickel can cause serious allergic reactions including eczema, particularly in people who are sensitive to the metal.

The study enlisted the help of seven patients.

"After 48 and 72 hours with these coins fixed by transparent tape onto their skin, all seven patients showed a strong reaction with erythema, infiltration and formation of vesicles," the researchers wrote.

It said the culprit was sweat which eroded the metal in the coins and released up to 320 times the amount of nickel allowed under the European Union Nickel Directive.

However, the Nickel Development Institute promptly hit back, arguing people were unlikely to be clutching the offending euro coins for so long and that the study was therefore flawed. [...]

PEOPLE OF EUROPE! DO NOT TAPE EURO COINS TO YOUR BODIES FOR 48 TO 72 HOURS! (ALTHOUGH LESS THAN 48 MIGHT BE JUST FINE!)

Despite the fact that change is much less likely to fall out of your pockets if it is attached to your skin, it is bound to be awfully uncomfortable to walk around like that, not to mention the pain that comes with actually having to spend the coins thus attached, what with all of the hair pulling and stuff. Unless you shave your arms or legs or whatever else it is to which you attach your coins. But that sort of chafes, too, now doesn't it. Maybe a nice nickel-resistant coin purse would be nice. The EU could supply one free-of-charge to every person in Europe. That works.

Well, maybe that, and a pair of plastic tongs to fish them out of the purse. Except, plastic is not environmentally friendly, so maybe you could just open the purse and dump out a few coins on the counter. Then, of course, the poor shopkeeper would have to figure a way to pick them up. Maybe just dump your coins from your purse into his purse. There, now. All fixed

Silly Europeans.
posted by Terry at 4:49:00 PM