The Archive Incident Report #0305250507
Type: Physiology
Category: RL 793 (skin disorder, entropy, “Gregor Samsa” onset)
Subject: AC-1992-EU-23, “Mister Rust”
Location: [REDACTED]
Reporting Archivist: A333 “Claude”

A bricklayer and laborer in Occitania in the south of France took ill in mid-1992, complaining of lethargy, a high fever, unsettling dreams, and a strongly red and itchy rash. Diagnosed with severe eczema, he convalesced for a week before returning for a checkup. To his surprise, and that of his doctor, the stethoscope and sphygmomanometer promptly rusted and fell to pieces.

It was soon discovered that the laborer’s touch was enough to induce a strong oxidizing reaction in a variety of substances, most notably iron and steel. Despite extensive testing, the mechanism of action remains unknown, but tests confirmed that lithium, calcium, magnesium, aluminum, zinc, chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel, lead, copper, mercury, silver, platinum, and gold were affected; it is guessed that potassium and sodium would also be affected but tests were ruled out due to danger.

Unfortunately, due to the amount of metal tools involved in his work, the laborer lost his job and pension, and was saddled with a very high cost of living due to the need to either remove metals that could oxidize from his proximity or to have others do work (such as cooking) he could no longer do himself. The Archive was able to step in and secure him a job in a materials testing lab, where his unique physical properties were highly useful.

Note from Head Archivist:
Unsubstantiated reports indicate that, at or around the same time in 1992, an unidentified fisherman living in Waitangi on the island of Rēkohu developed a similar affliction, only rather than oxidization his touch would cause wood and other natural fibers to rot. This is particularly noteworthy as Rēkohu is an antipodal point from southern France, on the exact opposite side of the globe. An Archival field team was dispatched to investigate, with the result that [REDACTED] but only after he [REDACTED] in the midst of [REDACTED] helplessly.