Survey of chemical substances in consumer products, 68 – Mapping of perfume in toys and children's articles

Mapping of perfume in toys and children's articles

3 Allergy and sensitivity

3.1 Types of sensitivity reactions
3.2 Spread of allergy and sensitivity in Denmark

Use of perfume substances in products for children constitutes a risk for development of sensitivity or allergic deceases by skin contact. The fragrances investigated in this project, are by the scientific committee for cosmetics assessed to be causing allergy by skin contact. Inhaling of the fragrances can cause respiratory irritation and nuisances. In the following, the terms sensitivity and allergy are described in brief.

3.1 Types of sensitivity reactions

Often the term allergy is used for the various types of sensitivity reactions. Medically, a distinction is made between the following reactions:

Allergy
Other sensitivity

Allergy is the reaction where an allergy-provoking substance affects the immune system of the body that overreacts and presents symptoms like reddening, itching, swelling or blistering (Allergy-Encyclopaedia 2004 a).

An allergy-provoking substance is called an allergen. An allergen can for instance be pollen, droppings of house dust mites, animal hair, metals (nickel, chrome, etc.) or certain chemicals, for instance colouring agents, flavouring agents, perfume substances and organic solvents. When the body is exposed to an allergen, the immune system is affected and IgE anti-substances are produced (Immunoglobulin E-anti-substances). This process is called sensitization and repeated contact with the allergen can lead to development of allergic symptoms (Allergy-Encyclopaedia 2004 b and c, the Danish Asthma and Allergy Association 2004 a, Smith & Hotchkiss, 2001).

Dependent on where in the body the allergens and anti-substances meet, various allergic deceases may be provoked: Asthma is triggered by reaction in the lungs, hay fever is provoked by reaction in the nose and urticaria by reaction on the skin (Allergy-Encyclopaedia 2004 a).

Other sensitivity includes all sensitivity reactions not followed by a reaction from the immune system. The sensitivity-provoking substance is thus the direct reason for the symptoms, whereas, in connection with allergy, it is the reaction of the substance together with IgE-anti-substances in the body that causes the symptoms (Allergy-Encyclopaedia 2004 d).

The symptoms of the two conditions are homogenous (Allergy-Encyclopaedia 2004 d).

It is characteristic for both allergy and sensitivity that the symptoms are provoked by substances that do not result in any dysfunction of healthy persons or by substances that are not harmful in themselves. (Iversen et al. 2000, Smith & Hotchkiss, 2001).

Investigations made by Johansen (2002) show that the period of time a fragrance allergen is tolerated by sensitized persons is increased when the concentration of the allergen is lowered. Exposure to several allergens at the same time can cause synergetic effect.

Contact allergy is a special form of allergy. The allergy is triggered by prolonged, direct contact with an allergen. The reaction is also called allergic contact eczema. Allergic contact eczema occurs at the place of contact as an inflammatory condition of the skin (Allergy-Encyclopaedia 2004 g).

The allergy type contact allergy differs from the other forms of allergy by being permanent, non-hereditary and without almost any hereditary tendency (Allergy-Encyclopaedia 2004 g). Contact allergy can be prevented by avoiding contact with allergy-provoking substances (the Danish Asthma and Allergy Association 2004 b, Iversen 2000).

3.2 Spread of allergy and sensitivity in Denmark

Allergy and sensitivity are widely spread in the Danish population. It is estimated that approximately 25 per cent of a birth cohort at one time or another in their life will experience allergy (Allergy-Encyclopaedia 2004 c).

Hay fever is the most common allergic decease. It is estimated that 10-20 per cent of the population has pollen hay fever (Allergy-Encyclopaedia 2004 e). Contact allergy and asthma are also widespread allergic deceases. It is estimated that approximately 15 per cent of the Danish population, both adults and schoolchildren, has contact allergy (Nielsen & Menné 1992, Mørtz et al. 2000), whereas 5 -10 per cent suffers from asthma (Allergy-Encyclopaedia 2004 f).

Iversen et al. (2000), Johansen (2002) and the Danish Asthma and Allergy Association (2004 b) point out that perfume is one of the most frequently reasons for contact allergy. The results of the earlier mentioned investigations by Nielsen and Menné (1992) demonstrated that about 2 per cent of the tested persons were sensitized to perfume substances.

Furthermore, several Danish investigations show that the occurrence of perfume allergy has doubled within the recent 10-15 years (National Allergy Research Centre 2004 b).

The ability of perfume substances to provoke allergy is not dependent on the substances being produced naturally or synthetically (National Allergy Research Centre 2004 a, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency 2002b).