chemistry question #877

Gina, a 22 year old female from Boston, Massachusetts asks on August 15, 2002,

Q:

I am allergic to nickel and cobalt. (thanks to patch testing). I think it was provoked by taking birth control pills that were dyed blue, green, and white. Is either cobalt or nickel used in the production of Blue 1 Lake? I know cobalt has a blue hue.
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the answer

Barry Shell answered on September 1, 2002, A:

Blue #1 has no cobalt or nickel in it. It is an organic compound made of hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen. You can see the formula and molecular structure, and an explanation about why it has colour at a website run by Dave Woodcock at Okanagan University College.

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