Dirty Money
Filthy lucre takes on a whole new meaning
with the new 1-euro and 2-euro coins. A recent study concludes that the coins release
up to 320 times as much nickel as European standards permit for prolonged contact
with the metal - a common skin allergen. The culprit is the anodic action between
the coin's double nickel alloy construction. A 40 mA current flows between the two
alloys at the interface. "It's like a mini-battery," said one investigator. The
current leads to corrosion and the release of nickel ions. Job Announcement: The
E.U. is in desperate need of a junior level college chemistry major to consult before
settling on the design of the new euro coins.
|