Airborne allergic contact dermatitis caused by isothiazolinones in water‐based paints: a retrospective study of 44 cases

Abstract

Our series confirms that airborne allergic contact dermatitis caused by paints containing isothiazolinones is not rare, and may be severe and long-lasting. Better regulation of isothiazolinone concentrations in paints, and their adequate labelling, is urgently needed.

The methylisothiazolinone epidemic goes along with changing patients' characteristics – After cosmetics, industrial applications are the focus

“…The latter exposure is increasingly considered. Amsler et al reviewed 44 cases of airborne contact dermatitis due to exposure to paints (the use of paints or MI emitted from painted walls), and Schwensen et al reporting the results of a European study found 15 patients (7.3%) having experienced allergic reactions when exposed to newly painted rooms …”

Preventing relapses of airborne allergic contact dermatitis to isothiazolinones in wall paint by painting over with an isothiazolinone‐free paint

“…Clinically relevant emissions of isothiazolinones from wall paint may occur for a longer period of time based on the continued flares 8 months after painting in our patient's case. Other cases of prolonged dermatitis involving airborne ACD in response to isothiazolinones in paints have also been described previously . Although authors have reported the use of inorganic sulfur salt to inactivate isothiazolinones on a painted surface, we are not aware of a prior publication where our simple approach was used.…”

Airborne dermatitis in a child caused by isothiazolinones in a water‐based paint in Italy: Call for better regulations

“…At the end of the 1990s, a new upsurge of ACD caused by Kathon CG was attributed to the introduction of MI as a stand‐alone preservative at high concentrations . A steady increase in the number of cases of ACD caused by MI was first recorded in 2004, and several reports identified the risk of primary sensitization to MCI/MI contained in water‐based paints, particularly in children . Subsequently, in accordance with the initial 2013 opinion of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety of the European Commission, MI was, in the meantime, banned from use in cosmetics .…”

“…Subsequently, in accordance with the initial 2013 opinion of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety of the European Commission, MI was, in the meantime, banned from use in cosmetics . Today, there is still no effective regulation on the use of MI in non‐cosmetic products, such as paints, apart from its concentration limit of 1000 ppm, which is still very high . As illustrated by the numerous reports of ACD caused by both MCI/MI and MI in the recent literature, better regulations regarding the concentration of isothiazolinones in paints and household washing and cleaning products are urgently needed because of the associated sensitization risk, especially in children.…”