title: Sensitization to 26 fragrances to be labelled according to current European regulation. Results of the IVDK and review of the literature.
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), gamma-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.
authors.affiliation: Zentrale des IVDK, Institut an der Universität Göttingen, Germany. aschnuch@med.uni-goettingen.de
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schnuch
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Uter
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geier
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lessmann
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Frosch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D010476:Perfume / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000592:standards; D015995:Prevalence; D011356:Product Labeling / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D010476:Perfume