title: Fragrance allergy: assessing the safety of washed fabrics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previously, a quantitative risk assessment suggested there was no risk of induction of fragrance allergy from minor residues of fragrance chemicals on washed fabrics.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether there was any risk of the elicitation of contact allergy from fragrance chemical residues on fabric in individuals who were already sensitized.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six subjects with a positive patch test to isoeugenol (n = 19) or hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (n = 17) were recruited. Dose-response and fabric patch tests were performed, respectively, with filter paper and a cotton sample loaded with fragrance in ethanol-diethylphthalate (DEP) and applied in a Finn Chamber or a Hill Top Chamber.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only two subjects reacted to an isoeugenol patch test concentration of 0.01% (>20x the estimated likely skin exposure level), none reacted to lower concentrations. Of 36 subjects, 18 reacted to the fabric patch treated with ethanol-DEP vehicle alone and 20 to the fragrance-chemical-treated fabric patch. These were only minor non-specific skin reactions. They were also quite evenly distributed between the two fragrance chemical allergic groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of the examples studied, fragrance chemical residues present on fabric do not appear to present a risk of the elicitation of immediate or delayed allergic skin reactions on individuals already sensitized.
authors.affiliation: DABMEB Consultancy Ltd, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire MK44 1PR, UK. david.basketter@ukonline.co.uk
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Basketter
authors.forename: Annick
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pons-Guiraud
authors.forename: Arian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Asten
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laverdet
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Marty
authors.forename: Ludovic
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berthod
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siest
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giordano-Labadie
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tennstedt
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baeck
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vigan
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lainé
authors.forename: Christophe J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Le Coz
authors.forename: Marie-Claude
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bayrou
authors.forename: Marie-Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Germaux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000447:Aldehydes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D003020:Clothing; D053138:Cyclohexenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology*; D003902:Detergents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D005054:Eugenol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010476:Perfume / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D053138:Cyclohexenes; D003902:Detergents; D010476:Perfume; D005054:Eugenol; C036643:isoeugenol; C092244:hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde