Fragrance allergy: assessing the risk from washed fabrics

Abstract

The prevalence of contact allergy to fragrance ingredients increased during the last part of the 20th century with the consequence that a substantial number of individuals are at risk of experiencing allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) if they have a sufficient degree of skin exposure to the chemical to which they have become sensitized. Such exposure does not necessarily have to arise from the type of source that originally induced the sensitization. A number of sources of exposure are clearly associated with risk of elicitation of ACD, but the role of fragrance deposited on fabrics, for example as a result of laundry processes, also can be questioned. In this article, firstly, the risk of the induction of fragrance-related ACD from exposure to fragrance via fabric is considered. Using a quantitative risk-assessment approach, the risk appears to be extremely low. The possibility that fragrance residues on laundered fabrics might elicit reactions in those already sensitized by a different route is also discussed. Clinically, clothing pattern dermatitis associated with fragrance allergy is almost never observed, although this could be investigated clinically by exposing sensitized individuals to the relevant fragrance allergen.

Quantitative risk assessment for skin sensitisation: Consideration of a simplified approach for hair dye ingredients

“…The QRA process for skin sensitization has been described in detail elsewhere (Basketter, 2008a;Gerberick et al, 2001a;Felter et al, 2003;Griem et al, 2003;Api et al, 2008;Corea et al, 2006).…”

A review of models for near-field exposure pathways of chemicals in consumer products

“…ConsExpo, another study assumes that 1% of laundry detergents and fabric conditioners will be retained 779 on the clothing based on internal data from the Soap and Detergent Association (Isaacs et al, 2014;780 Sanderson et al, 2006). Corea et al (Corea et al, 2006) mentioned an empirical model to estimate the 781 deposition of chemicals on washed fabric which calculates the equilibrium partition coefficient between 782 cotton and an aqueous fabric conditioner solution from the octanol-water partition coefficient K ow , but 783 the model details were not presented. Their results using the empirical data (Corea et al, 2006) would 784 lead to 10% -90% of the fragrance allergens in fabric conditioner deposited on the washed fabric.…”

Quantitative risk assessment of the aggregate dermal exposure to the sensitizing fragrance geraniol in personal care products and household cleaning agents

“…For these two products a deterministic estimate of the exposure was made (see Supporting Information for details) and this value was added to the probabilistic exposure estimate. Laundry agents were not included in the aggregate exposure estimation, as exposure from these agents is estimated as extremely low (Corea et al, 2006).…”