4th June 2013 - If you have certain types of skin allergies, check your change, as the newer 10p and 5p coins could be bad news.
The Treasury has changed the type of metal used from cupro-nickel alloy to nickel-plated steel.
The change was made to save around £7-8 million per year. However, researchers have found the new metal mix could mean a four times increase in nickel metal allergy reactions.
One allergy charity tells us nickel allergy is one of the most common contact allergies in the UK. Allergy UK says some people who handle coins may need to change jobs because of the new metal.
Government scientists are monitoring the evidence, but say the coins pose no increased risk.
An international team of researchers from Sweden, Denmark and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London studied the allergy risk from the new coins in research published in the journal Contact Dermatitis.
This was a small study involving six volunteers to check skin exposure to metal released using artificial sweat to give consistent results.
The amount of nickel deposited onto skin while handling of nickel-plated coins for an hour was four times higher than that from cupro-nickel coins. They also found that brief and repeated contact with the new coins results in significant nickel exposure.
The scientists conclude that people in the UK are now "unnecessarily exposed to higher levels of nickel on the skin" and say nickel dermatitis is a public health concern. They say the coins "pose an increased allergy and eczema risk to the general public and cashiers."
In contrast, Sweden is banning nickel in coins.
Reacting to the study's finding, Allergy UK's director of clinical services, Maureen Jenkins says in an emailed statement: "The high levels of nickel in these 5p and 10p coins could have an effect on many people's everyday lives. Many people in the UK suffer from contact eczema on their hands and it already impacts effective working practices, meaning people may have to change occupations. Handling coins is something that we do many times over the course of a day, this increased exposure could lead to a rise in exacerbations in nickel allergic people."
In an emailed statement, a Public Health England spokesperson says: "This is an issue that we are aware of and have provided initial advice to the Royal Mint that there is no increased risk from handling the new nickel-plated steel five pence and ten pence coins compared to coins made of cupronickel alloy, based on current data. We will continue to review new evidence as it becomes available and assess any potential public health implications."
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