title: Experimentally-induced irritant contact dermatitis. Determination of optimum irritant concentrations.
abstract: Patch testing with 7 irritants has been performed on a panel of 42 healthy volunteers, with the aim of determining concentrations which would induce mild to moderate reactions in at least 75% of individuals tested. The irritants studied and their optimum concentrations were as follows: benzalkonium chloride, 0.5%; sodium lauryl sulphate, 5%; croton oil, 0.8%; dithranol, 0.02%; nonanoic acid, 80%; propylene glycol, 100%; sodium hydroxide, 2%. Responder rates lower than 75% had to be accepted for benzalkonium chloride and sodium hydroxide in order to prevent overly severe reactions, whilst propylene glycol proved to have only marginal irritant properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Wycombe General Hospital, Bucks, UK.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
mesh_terms: D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007509:Irritants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007509:Irritants