title: Airborne contact dermatitis from methylchloroisothiazolinone in wall paint. Abolition of symptoms by chemical allergen inactivation.
abstract: Preservatives such as isothiazolinones in paints have been reported to cause airborne contact dermatitis. The patients whom we report experienced acute dermatitis on air-exposed skin and respiratory symptoms after staying in recently painted rooms. Kathon (methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone) added as preservative to the wall paint was identified as causative agent. In one individual symptoms rapidly disappeared after treatment of the painted walls with inorganic sulfur salt, which leads to inactivation of the allergenic properties of methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone. We describe the patients, the clinical course and review the literature pertinent to such cases. In addition we report on the chemical analyses of the decorating paints used, and on experiments on emission and air concentration of methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone from a painted surface before and after inactivation by sodium bisulfite.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bohn
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niederer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brehm
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bircher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010150:Paint / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D010328:Patch Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D013431:Sulfates / Q000737:chemistry; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004202:Disinfectants; D013431:Sulfates; D013844:Thiazoles; C012036:sodium sulfate; C011506:2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; C011421:5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one