Contact allergens and irritants in household washing and cleaning products.
BACKGROUND
Household cleaning products often contain potential allergens and irritants but allergic contact dermatitis from these products in general consumers is rarely reported in the literature.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of irritants and allergens as indicated on the labels or on the product information found on the website of household cleaning products marketed in Italy.


METHODS
We examined the labels and the product information of 291 liquid household washing and cleaning products, including 43 washing-up liquids, 63 laundry detergents, 61 fabric conditioners, 47 spray detergents, and 77 hard surface cleaning products. We obtained the data from the product information found on the websites for 263 products and directly on the product packages for 28 products. For each product we specifically recorded the presence of surfactants, preservatives, and fragrances listed in Annex III of Directive 76/768/EEC.


RESULTS
The websites of two Italian brands do not respect EU regulations as they provide product information only with bar codes of the products. Preservatives and fragrances are the main allergens declared in the label of household cleaning products with methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI) listed in 35.7% and limonene in 43.6% of the products. Surfactants were listed in 16.5% of the studied products.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that household cleaning products in Italian market contain several allergens, particularly preservatives and fragrances. For consumers, at least in Italy, it may not be easy to retrieve product information from the website for two widely sold brands. The information had to be taken from the actual package.
Magnano
Michela
M
Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Nephrology, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 1, 40138 Bologna, Italy. michela magnano@virgilio.it
Silvani
Simonetta
S
Vincenzi
Colombina
C
Nino
Massimiliano
M
Tosti
Antonella
A
D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology*; D003902:Detergents / Q000032:analysis; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000032:analysis; D006795:Household Products / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007509:Irritants / Q000032:analysis*; D007558:Italy; D010476:Perfume / Q000032:analysis; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical / Q000032:analysis; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000032:analysis
D000485:Allergens; D003902:Detergents; D004202:Disinfectants; D007509:Irritants; D010476:Perfume; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; D013501:Surface-Active Agents