Sensitization to 26 fragrances to be labelled according to current European regulation

Abstract

To study the frequency of sensitization to 26 fragrances to be labelled according to current European regulation. During 4 periods of 6 months, from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2004, 26 fragrances were patch tested additionally to the standard series in a total of 21 325 patients; the number of patients tested with each of the fragrances ranged from 1658 to 4238. Hydroxymethylpentylcyclohexene carboxaldehyde (HMPCC) was tested throughout all periods. The following frequencies of sensitization (rates in %, standardized for sex and age) were observed: tree moss (2.4%), HMPCC (2.3), oak moss (2.0), hydroxycitronellal (1.3), isoeugenol (1.1), cinnamic aldehyde (1.0), farnesol (0.9), cinnamic alcohol (0.6), citral (0.6), citronellol (0.5), geraniol (0.4), eugenol (0.4), coumarin (0.4), lilial (0.3), amyl‐cinnamic alcohol (0.3), benzyl cinnamate (0.3), benzyl alcohol (0.3), linalool (0.2), methylheptin carbonate (0.2), amyl‐cinnamic aldehyde (0.1), hexyl‐cinnamic aldehyde (0.1), limonene (0.1), benzyl salicylate (0.1), γ‐methylionon (0.1), benzyl benzoate (0.0), anisyl alcohol (0.0). 1) Substances with higher sensitization frequencies were characterized by a considerable number of ‘++/+++’ reactions. 2) Substances with low sensitization frequencies were characterized by a high number of doubtful/irritant and a low number of stronger (++/+++) reactions. 3) There are obviously fragrances among the 26 which are, with regard to contact allergy, of great, others of minor, and some of no importance at all.

Experiences and Statistical Evaluation of Serious Undesirable Effects of Cosmetic Products in the EU

“…Only in 8% of the reported cases were the substances or substance groups (such as in hair dyes) identified. PPD, methylisothiazolinone (MI) and fragrances were specified in multiple cases, which is in good correlation with epidemiological studies [9,10].…”

‘Read this and be safe!’ Comparison of regulatory processes for communicating risks of personal care products to European and South African consumers

“…Even some natural substances added to these products can be sensitizers or irritants (e.g., fragrances; [9]). Some examples of health effects associated with common ingredients used in PCPs are endocrine disruption [10][11][12][13], allergies [9,[14][15][16][17][18][19], associations with asthma [10] and birth defects [20]. Although, not all consumers develop obvious negative effects when using PCPs and benefit from these products, some persons suffer considerable health problems from the hazardous ingredients in PCPs.…”

Lichen extracts as raw materials in perfumery. Part 1: oakmoss

“…This seems all the more necessary as the regulation of chloroatranol and atranol in oakmoss absolute-containing products appears to be more important than that of oakmoss absolute itself. [83] It has recently been pointed out that oakmoss alone is not suitable for diagnosing treemoss allergy, [84] a topic that will be discussed in the second part of this review. Last, using a sample of uncertified origin, it was found that oakmoss exerted prominent phototoxic effects in an in vitro assay.…”