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Frequency of sensitization to 13 common preservatives in Switzerland *
Author(s) -
Perrenoud D.,
Bircher A.,
Hunziker T.,
Sutter H.,
BrucknerTuderman L.,
Stäger J.,
Thürlimann W,
Schmid P.,
Suard A.,
Hunziker N.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
contact dermatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0536
pISSN - 0105-1873
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0536.1994.tb00597.x
Subject(s) - thiomersal , preservative , thimerosal , sensitization , benzalkonium chloride , triclosan , allergic contact dermatitis , paraben , medicine , antiseptic , contact dermatitis , population , dermatology , allergy , chemistry , food science , immunology , environmental health , pathology
From February 1989 to January 1990, the Swiss Contact Dermatitis Research Group conducted a 1‐year study to examine the frequency of sensitization to a series of 13 common preservatives. A group of 2295 consecutive outpatients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis (age range 7–90 years, with a mean age of 42; 911 males, 1384 females) was tested. The %s of positive reactions to the preservatives studied are as follows, in descending order: formaldehyde 5.7%, benzalkonium chloride 5.5%, Kathon CG 5.5%, thimerosal 4.2%, chlorhexidine digluconate 2.0%, DMDM hydantoin 1.7%. paraben mix 1.7%, chloroacetamide 1.5%, Bronopol 1.2%, imidazolidinyl urea 1.0%, quaternium 15 1.0%, triclosan 0.8%, 2,4‐dichlorobenzyl alcohol 0.4%. These relatively high values suggest a heavy exposure of the Swiss population to topical preservatives. Compared to previous studies, the sensitization rate to Kathon CG has stabilized in Switzerland over the last 2 years. Sensitization to formaldehyde portrayed impressive geographical variation, with sensitization rates up to 9% in western and only 3% in eastern Switzerland. The low sensitization rate to parabens argues for their inclusion in a medicament or preservative series, rather than in the standard series.