Twenty-five years quaternium-15 in the European baseline series: does it deserve its place there?

Contact Dermatitis. 2010 Apr;62(4):210-20. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0536.2010.01705.x.

Abstract

For allergens to be included in the European baseline series, they should have allergy rates of at least 1%. In several studies quaternium-15 had lower scores. Also, many cases of sensitization are already detected by formaldehyde contact allergy. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether quaternium-15 deserves continued inclusion in the baseline series on the basis of current criteria: 1% positive reactions, common occurrence in the environment, many relevant reactions. We used the literature survey method in this study. Only the United Kingdom has rates consistently over 1%. The mean for all other countries together and for many individual nations is lower than 1%. At least half of the reactions are already detected by formaldehyde sensitivity, which lowers rates for allergy to quaternium-15 per se (i.e. not caused or at least detected by formaldehyde sensitivity) to less than 0.6% for all countries except the United Kingdom. Neither common occurrence in the environment nor a high percentage of relevant reactions has been ascertained. It may well be argued that quaternium-15 does not deserve its place in the European baseline series and could be incorporated in a cosmetic screening series or preservative series instead. In the United Kingdom, routine testing should be continued.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / epidemiology*
  • Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / etiology*
  • Europe / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Methenamine / adverse effects
  • Methenamine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Patch Tests
  • Preservatives, Pharmaceutical / adverse effects*
  • Prevalence
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology

Substances

  • Preservatives, Pharmaceutical
  • quaternium-15
  • Methenamine