CONTACT ALLERGENS IN REGISTERED CLEANING AGENTS FOR INDUSTRIAL AND HOUSEHOLD USE

Cleaning work is a common cause of both irritant and allergic contact dermatitis. Cleaning agents for industrial and household use are regis tered in the Danish Product Register Data Base (PROBAS) according to a special notification rule issued by the Danish Environmental Protecti on Agency. About 2350 registered washing and cleaning agents containin g about 1250 different chemical substances were marketed in Denmark in February 1992. The occurrence of 49 contact allergens in 16 different product types within washing and cleaning agents were listed. Preserv atives and surface active agents made up the main part of contact alle rgens. Isothiazolinones and formaldehyde releasers were the most commo nly registered preservatives, and coconut diethanolamide the most comm only registered surface active agent. The major product types register ed as containing contact allergens were general cleaners, skin cleaner s, hair shampoos, and floor polishes.