Fragrance allergy: assessing the safety of washed fabrics.
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.
Basketter
David A
DA
DABMEB Consultancy Ltd, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire MK44 1PR, UK. david.basketter@ukonline.co.uk
Pons-Guiraud
Annick
A
van Asten
Arian
A
Laverdet
Catherine
C
Marty
Jean-Paul
JP
Martin
Ludovic
L
Berthod
Daniel
D
Siest
Sylvie
S
Giordano-Labadie
Françoise
F
Tennstedt
Dominique
D
Baeck
Marie
M
Vigan
Martine
M
Lainé
Gérard
G
Le Coz
Christophe J
CJ
Jacobs
Marie-Claude
MC
Bayrou
Olivier
O
Germaux
Marie-Anne
MA
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
D000447:Aldehydes; D053138:Cyclohexenes; D003902:Detergents; D010476:Perfume; D005054:Eugenol; C036643:isoeugenol; C092244:hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde