Octylisothiazolinone! Anti-fungal on Leather!

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This is an important article this week, because OIT isn’t just an occupational allergen and it can cross-react with MI.
Contact Dermatitis. 2016 Aug 19. doi: 10.1111/cod.12670. [Epub ahead of print]

Octylisothiazolinone, an additional cause of allergic contact dermatitis caused by leather: case series and potential implications for the study of cross-reactivity with methylisothiazolinone.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Octylisothiazolinone (OIT) (CAS no. 26530-20-1) is used as an antifungal agent by the leather industry.

OBJECTIVES:

To show sensitization to OIT from leather, and to highlight the potential implications when cross-reactivity between OIT and methylisothiazolinone (MI) is studied.

METHODS:

Two patients with allergic contact dermatitis caused by a leather belt and shoes, respectively, were patch tested with methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)/MI, MI, MCI, OIT, and benzisothiazolinone (BIT). High-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) was used to detect isothiazolinone derivatives in leather goods. Additionally, files of OIT-sensitized patients, observed at the KU Leuven department during the period 1990-2015, were retrospectively analysed.

RESULTS:

Both patients had been primarily sensitized to OIT, but the diagnosis in 1 of them could be achieved only when a higher patch test concentration of OIT (1000 ppm pet.) was used. HPLC-UV confirmed the presence of OIT in their leather goods. Non-relevant sensitization to MI was noted in both cases. Four additional cases of OIT sensitization from leather could be retrieved from the KU Leuven database.

CONCLUSIONS:

Non-occupational sensitization to OIT from leather may occur. Patch test concentrations of >250 ppm pet. may be necessary for diagnosis, and to show cross-reactivity with MI. Safer use limits for OIT in the leather industry may be needed.

© 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

KEYWORDS:

CAS no. 26530-20-1; allergic contact dermatitis; biocide; cross-reaction; fungicide; high-performance liquid chromatography; leather; methylisothiazolinone; octylisothiazolinone; shoes

For more information:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1600-0536/earlyview

 

 

Test your Colophony savvy

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Read more

Test your Benzalkonium Chloride Savvy

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Read more

Methylisothiazolinone and Fragrance mix sensitization in Iranian Children

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Here is an interesting study looking at sensitization rates in Iranian children with contact dermatitis.
Notably, most allergens appeared with higher frequency in older children except some notable exceptions:  cobalt chloride, methylisothiazolinone, paraben mix, and fragrance mix.  

The MI and the fragrance mix related chemicals are frequently used in personal hygiene products marketed for children.

Patch testing in Iranian children with allergic contact dermatitis

Hossein Mortazavi, Amirhooshang Ehsani, Seyed Sajed Sajjadi, Nessa Aghazadeh, and  Ebrahim Arian

BMC Dermatol. 2016; 16: 10.  Published online 2016 Jul 12.  PMCID: PMC4943022

“Background”

“Allergic contact dermatitis is a common disorder in adults and children alike and appears to be on the increase. The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitization trends in Iranian children with contact dermatitis.“

“For most allergens (except cobalt chloride, methylisothiazolinone, paraben mix, and fragrance mix), the percentages of positive response in the older age group (11–18 years) were higher than children below 10 years.  The most common allergen in the younger age group were cobalt chloride (4, 18.2 %), nickel sulfate (3, 13.6 %), methylisothiazolinone (2, 9.1 %), and paraben mix (2, 9.1 %) while in the older group they were as follows: nickel sulfate, cobalt chloride, methylisothiazolinone, colophony, potassium dichromate.“

Read more here:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4943022/

lung injury and humidifier disinfectant – MI! Free article

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Environ Health Toxicol. 2016 Jul 16. doi: 10.5620/eht.e2016014. [Epub ahead of print]

Major concerns regarding lung injury and related health conditions caused by the use of humidifier disinfectant.

Park DU1.

Abstract

A total of 221 patients were evaluated to be humidifier disinfectant associated with lung injury (HDLI) through two rounds of programs through April 2015. The humidifier disinfectant (HD) brands most often associated with HDLI were found to be Oxy (n=151, 68 %) and Cefu (n=26, 17 %). Polyhexamethylene guanidine used for disinfectant for four types of HD brands including Oxy was found to be associated with the highest number of HDLI cases (n=188). Further programs are operating to identify various health effects including lung injury which may be associated with the use of HD. Not only national agencies, but also pertinent environmental health societies should cooperate in the necessary investigations so that this tragedy can be properly addressed and future incidents concerning chemicals and chemical-containing products can be prevented.

KEYWORDS:

Chloromethylisothiazolinone; Methylisothiazolinone; Oligo(2-)ethoxyethoxyethyl guanidine chloride; Polyhexamethylene guanidine; humidifier disinfectant; lung injury

Read more here: http://e-eht.org/journal/view.php?doi=10.5620/eht.e2016014

Introduction:
“Korean authorities recently completed two rounds of programs (first: July 2013 through April 2014; second: July 2014 and April 2015) in an effort to examine the association of humidifier disinfectant-associated lung injury (HDLI) with the use of humidifier disinfectant (HD) by collecting information on individuals with lung injury who presumed their condition to be related to the use of HD and determining whether these registered cases were indeed associated with the use of HD. A total of 221 were evaluated as being associated with use of HD, including interstitial pneumonitis and widespread lung fibrosis, necessitating lung transplantation for some.”  …   “In 2012, two HDLI patients aged one year who were exposed to the Aekyung brand of HD containing a mixture of CMIT and MIT that had been exempted from the recall list were evaluated to be HDLI victims.”

Table 1 discusses the Distribution of humidifier disinfectant-associated lung injury (HDLI) according to type of humidifier disinfectant (HD) and disinfectant… 51 registrants used 6 had HDLI.  2 died.

Conclusion:

“The tragedy caused by household use of HD products cannot be resolved within a short period of time. It will require considerable time and effort to identify the victims, compensate them for damages, delineate the exact causes and take appropriate measures to prevent any recurrence of incidents caused by household products. Not only national agencies, but also pertinent environmental health societies should cooperate in the necessary investigations so that this tragedy can be properly addressed and future incidents concerning chemicals and chemical-containing products can be prevented.”

“I can’t find a bra – my underwear make me itch!” – living with formaldehyde allergy

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At the final patch test reading visit, once a positive reaction has been found, clinical relevance to the current dermatitis must be determined… then safe alternatives found… a challenge for the formaldehyde allergic person is clothing (textiles)…

Back in 2008, Dr. Andrew Scheman (Director of the Contact Allergen Management Program for the ACDS) led out a partnership initiative to form a collaborative [namely the American Contact Alternatives Group -ACAG]  which would work to find and share safe alternatives with each other and our patients, resulting in this manuscript:

Scheman A1, Jacob S, Zirwas M, Warshaw E, Nedorost S, Katta R, Cook J, Castanedo-Tardan MP.  Contact Allergy: alternatives for the 2007 North American contact dermatitis group (NACDG) Standard Screening Tray.  Dis Mon. 2008 Jan-Feb;54(1-2):7-156.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18215657

Since then, the ACAG collaborative has continued to work together and share with each other resources we find…

Here is a resource from CottoniqueTM:

“Each country has its own manufacturing standards for acceptable levels for formaldehyde resins. A low indicator of formaldehyde releasing resin would be 75 ppm which is the Japanese standard, the US standard is somewhere near 300ppm, quite a difference.

Fabrics safe to wear: 100% silk, 100% linen (if it wrinkles easy), 100% polyester, 100% acrylic, 100% nylon, spandex, flannel (soft), wool (may cause irritation) and denim.

Do not wear these fabrics: Permanent press, wrinkle resistant, color-fast, stain-resistant, blends (including rayon, polyester-cotton), corduroy or shrink-proof wool.

It is suggested that you read the labels in your existing clothing and separate them in your closet so you will know what’s safe to wear. Always opt for loose fitting clothing since friction and perspiration can cause the condition to flare. Read the labels in any new clothing before you purchase. Clothes made in Japan are the safest and companies that sell clothes in Japan also have to meet the Japanese standard.

Companies that meet the Japanese standard: GAP, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Liz Claiborne, Eddie Bauer, Cuddle Duds and Levi Strauss. There may be others but these were on the list from the American Contact Dermatitis Society.”

Blog from Cottonique [https://www.cottonique.com/blogs/blog/2424702-the-contact-dermatitis-and-clothing-connection]  https://www.cottonique.com

 

The Dermatitis AcademyTM has no financial or relevant relationship with CottoniqueTM, nor certifies their wares.

day in life formaldehyde

A day in the life of a patch tester – Formaldehyde allergy – Surprise

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Formaldehyde allergy:  I saw a patient with ‘recalcitrant eczema’ who we diagnosed with a formaldehyde allergy by patch testing.  They were doing very well, minor flares here and there…and, then one day they came to see me with a horrific reaction on their face, chest and arms – new involved areas.

We reviewed the exposure sources – person hygiene products, aspartame, dishwashing soap, cleaning agents, building supplies – remodeling – the full investigative history gave no clues – until I asked the pivotal question, where were you 3-5 days before – did anything different happen?

“My car broke down”.

Me: ‘Did you work on it? Did you go to the automotive shop?’

All answers were no.

Me: ‘The how did you get to work?’

“I rode the bus.”

Then, there was that moment of pause –

Surprise!

“While I was waiting for the bus at the bus stop, a car backfired right there and exhaust smoke got all over us”.

In Florida, at that time, catalytic converters were not required on every vehicle…

The source of this totally compliant patient’s reaction – formaldehyde in the exhaust fumes!

 

Is this commonly reported?  No. could it have been potentially missed?  Yes.

Conclusion – always consider the timing of the “flare up” responses…

 

More on formaldehyde:  ”   It reaches the air via automobile exhaust fumes from vehicles without catalytic converters, or from any other plant which burns fossil fuels, including energy plants. Forest fires and waste incinerators also give off formaldehyde.

Symptoms of Formaldehyde Allergy” – read more here:

http://www.news-medical.net/health/Formaldehyde-Allergy.aspx

Formaldehyde and non-fat dry milk in the laundry? YES!

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Why would anyone add non-fat dry milk to the laundry?  Because the casein in the non-fat dry milk precipitates with the free formaldehyde and then it gets washed out better…

“Formaldehyde present in clothing and sheets can produce allergic reactions. Most frequently, it is an irritant, especially to dry skin and areas exposed to increased friction or perspiration.Casein is an innocuous compound that, when added to formaldehyde, produces insoluble compounds used to make items, such as buttons, billiard balls, and water-proof adhesives. A small handful of nonfat dry milk added to the laundry rinse water precipitates free formaldehyde, this results in reduction of the skin irritation. This process also makes clothing and sheets feel softer. In some fabrics, the formaldehyde continues to be released, and after a few days the rinsing must be repeated.Excessive quantities of harsh laundry detergents may cause the same problem of itching.”

http://archderm.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=534309

A fragrance free bug spray

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Finding a fragrance free bug spray can be quite a challenge… this is one that is designated by the manufacturer as “no fragrance”

 

https://www.amazon.com/BuggSpray-Insect-Repellant-Biting-Mosquitoes/dp/B00L5OELT6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467181666&sr=8-1&keywords=buggspray+insect+repellent