Is Rhodium Harmful to Your Health When Used in Jewelry?

Rhodium is an element that has industrial uses and is also used for plating jewelry made of other metals. It is quite rare, with production being only about 3 tons a year. Although dangers are involved with industrial uses, there do not seem to be health issues when rhodium is used in jewelry.

Identification

Rhodium is a white metal. It is the rarest of the nonradioactive metals found on earth, and is considered the most expensive metal. Its symbol on the periodic table is Rh, and its atomic number is 45. Rhodium is a member of the platinum group, which also includes platinum, palladium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium.include:

• Rhodium is a member of the platinum group
  
• which also includes platinum
  
• palladium
  
• ruthenium
  
• iridium
  
• osmium

Rhodium is extremely resistant to corrosion; does not tarnish; and is durable, hard and reflective. Because of its rarity, rhodium has no effect on the environment.

Rhodium in Industry

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Rhodium is used in the engineering industry as an alloying element for hardening platinum and palladium. Rhodium compounds are toxic and carcinogenic, and must be handled with care. Rhodium dust is flammable. However, virtually no reports of humans being affected by rhodium exist. The Centers for Disease Control issues occupational health guidelines for the handling of rhodium in industrial settings 1.

Rhodium in Jewelry

Rhodium is used for plating jewelry. The metallic element is commonly used to plate white gold and platinum, where it increases durability, prevents scratching and improves brightness. Rhodium is hypoallergenic and is often used as a protective coating for white gold, which may contain nickel. About 15 percent of the population is allergic to nickel, so rhodium prevents skin irritation. Rhodium is not malleable and would break in its pure form, so you will not find pure rhodium jewelry. Rhodium can be used to plate less expensive metals, like sterling silver or brass. Once the rhodium is applied, the jewelry will look the same, no matter what metal is underneath.

Rhodium Dangers

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The process of plating the jewelry with rhodium requires rhodium to be a powder, so the jewelry maker must use care. Plating can wear off in time, depending on use, so your skin could be exposed to the metal underneath the rhodium. The rhodium itself, used as plating or occasionally mixed with other metals to form jewelry, has no documented danger to the wearer of the jewelry.