Frequency of sensitization to 13 common preservatives in Switzerland^*

Abstract

From February 1989 to January 1990, the Swiss Contact Dermatitis Research Group conducted a 1-year study to examine the frequency of sensitization to a series of 13 common preservatives. A group of 2295 consecutive outpatients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis (age range 7-90 years, with a mean age of 42; 911 males, 1384 females) was tested. The %s of positive reactions to the preservatives studied are as follows, in descending order: formaldehyde 5.7%, benzalkonium chloride 5.5%, Kathon CG 5.5%, thimerosal 4.2%, chlorhexidine digluconate 2.0%, DMDM hydantoin 1.7%, paraben mix 1.7%, chloroacetamide 1.5%, Bronopol 1.2%, imidazolidinyl urea 1.0%, quaternium 15 1.0%, triclosan 0.8%, 2,4-dichlorobenzyl alcohol 0.4%. These relatively high values suggest a heavy exposure of the Swiss population to topical preservatives. Compared to previous studies, the sensitization rate to Kathon CG has stabilized in Switzerland over the last 2 years. Sensitization to formaldehyde portrayed impressive geographical variation, with sensitization rates up to 9% in western and only 3% in eastern Switzerland. The low sensitization rate to parabens argues for their inclusion in a medicament or preservative series, rather than in the standard series.

Thimerosal [MAK Value Documentation, 2001]

“…Positive results were seen on average in 17-19 % of the consecutively tested patients in Austria, with great regional differences (Kränke et al 1995), in 6.2 % (Storrs et al 1989) and 10.6 % (Marks et al 1995) of the patients in the USA, in 4.2 % in Switzerland (Perrenoud et al 1994) and in 1.3 % in the Netherlands (van't Veen and van Joost 1994). Between 1992 and, during the testing of 6700 to 10000 patients annually with 0.05-0.1 % thimerosal in petrolatum as part of the standard series, an increase in the incidence of sensitizations from 4.2 % to 7.5 % was found by the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK 1997).…”

Quaternary ammonium compounds – new occupational hazards

“…W badaniu przeprowadzonym przez Szwajcarską Grupę ds. Kontaktowego Zapalenia Skóry (Swiss Contact Dermatitis Research Group) stwierdzono, że BAC jest odpowiedzialny za rozwój ok. 5% przypadków tego schorzenia (46). Niemieckie Towarzystwo Alergii Kontaktowej (German Contact Allergy Group) uznało jednak BAC za słaby alergen kontaktowy, ponieważ w badaniu przeprowadzonym w latach 1990-1991 w 8 klinikach dermatologicznych u 225 z 2146 pacjentów na podstawie wyników testów naskórkowych z chlorkiem benzalkonium wykazano działanie alergizujące BAC, u 258 dodatkowo działanie drażniące, ale tylko u 12 z nich rozpoznano kontaktowe zapalenie skóry (47).…”

Topische Antibiotika und Antiseptika

“…Nach Chlorhexidinanwendung wurden allergische Kontaktekzeme [63], Kontakturtikaria [88] und anaphylaktische Soforttypreaktionen [62] berichtet. Diese scheinen jedoch seltener als nach Clioquinol bzw.…”