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manufacture, processing and use of stainless steel - International ...

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In view <strong>of</strong> the chemical/physical properties <strong>of</strong> <strong>stainless</strong> <strong>steel</strong>s <strong>and</strong> the associated<br />

nickel-release data, there appears to be little reason based on bioavailability for<br />

suggesting that further testing <strong>of</strong> metallic <strong>stainless</strong> <strong>steel</strong> in the massive form is<br />

warranted. However, issues raised by the current classification <strong>of</strong> some <strong>stainless</strong><br />

<strong>steel</strong>s as skin sensitisers <strong>and</strong> carcinogens, on the basis <strong>of</strong> nickel content, indicate the<br />

need for some additional testing to explore the appropriateness <strong>of</strong> such classification.<br />

With regard to skin sensitisation, animal tests using a modified Buehler test method<br />

may generate some <strong>use</strong>ful information for those <strong>stainless</strong> <strong>steel</strong> grades with the highest<br />

associated nickel release.<br />

None <strong>of</strong> the st<strong>and</strong>ard animal carcinogenicity tests currently available are considered<br />

likely to generate <strong>use</strong>ful information, due to practical difficulties associated with<br />

dosing procedures. The carcinogenicity issue may be partly explored by examining<br />

the fate <strong>of</strong> any nickel or chromium released from <strong>stainless</strong> <strong>steel</strong> within biological<br />

systems (e.g. in vitro studies <strong>of</strong> cellular uptake, in vivo distribution studies), with a<br />

view to establishing whether nickel or chromium has potential to reach the target<br />

molecule (DNA).<br />

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