Direct release of the allergen tulipalin A from Alstroemeria cut flowers: a possible source of airborne contact dermatitis?

The allergen tulipalin A was collected by dynamic headspace technique from cut flowers of 2 Alstroemeria hybrids and quantified and identified by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The a mounts of tulipalin A released into the air were correlated with the tulipa lin A and the total allergen content (tulipalin A and tuliposides) in the p lant tissue, respectively. Tulipalin A was released primarily from the woun ded areas, i.e. the stems, although small amounts were also emitted from th e undamaged flowers in one of the hybrids. The tulipalin A concentrations i n the stems of the Alstroemeria hybrids investigated were 0.06% and 0.13% o f fresh weight, respectively, and the amounts directly released from the cu t flowers were 0.4 and 2.2 mu g (cut flower)(-1) h(-1), respectively. The c ontent of tulipalin A exceeded that of tuliposides in leaves and flowers of both hybrids, whereas the content of tulipalin A in stems (in % fresh weig ht) was slightly lower than the content of tuliposides. The possibility tha t airborne tulipalin A from Alstroemeria could be a source of airborne cont act dermatitis is discussed.