Formaldehyde exposure and patterns of concomitant contact allergy to formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasers.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasers are widely used in consumer products and may often cause contact allergy.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the prevalence of concomitant contact allergy to formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasers in dermatitis patients, and to determine the sources of formaldehyde exposure based on personal and occupational products obtained from dermatitis patients.

METHODS:

Patch test data from referred dermatitis patients with a positive patch test reaction to formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasers were analysed. For the period 2000-2008, the formaldehyde content in products obtained from formaldehyde-allergic patients was analysed by chromotropic acid test and/or acetylacetone test.

RESULTS:

Patients allergic to a formaldehyde-releaser often had simultaneous contact allergy to formaldehyde. Other combinations were also prevalent. In patients who reacted to more than two formaldehyde-releasers, nearly all reacted simultaneously to formaldehyde. Seventy-five percent of the formaldehyde-allergic patients used a product that contained formaldehyde. The main source of formaldehyde exposure was cosmetics (78%).

CONCLUSIONS:

Concomitant contact allergy to formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releaser remains common. Furthermore, contact allergy to a formaldehyde-releaser was nearly always concomitant with another formaldehyde-releaser. Formaldehyde was commonly found in personal products used by formaldehyde-allergic patients.

• Authors: Michael D Lundov, Jeanne D Johansen, Berit C Carlsen, Kåre Engkilde, Torkil Menné, Jacob P Thyssen
• Journal: Contact dermatitis (Contact Dermatitis) Vol. 63 Issue 1 Pg. 31-6 (Jul 2010) ISSN: 1600-0536 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20597931 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cosmetics
• Formaldehyde

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Cosmetics (adverse effects)
• Denmark (epidemiology)
• Dermatitis, Allergic Contact (diagnosis, epidemiology, etiology)
• Formaldehyde (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Occupational Exposure (adverse effects)
• Patch Tests
• Prevalence
• Young Adult