Temporal changes in chromium allergy in Denmark between 2002 and 2017. (14th January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alinaghi, Farzad; Zachariae, Claus; Thyssen, Jacob P.; Johansen, Jeanne D.
• Is Part Of: Contact dermatitis. Volume 80:Number 3(2019)
• Page Start: 156
• Page End: 161
• Publication Date: 2019-01-14
• Subjects: chromium -- contact allergy -- hexavalent -- leather -- prevalence -- regulation -- trend; Contact dermatitis -- Periodicals; 616.51
• DOI: 10.1111/cod.13181
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0105-1873

Abstract

Abstract : Background: In 2012, Danish authorities submitted a proposal to the European Chemical Agency restricting the content of hexavalent chromium to a maximum of 3 ppm in leather goods. Following its adoption, this proposal was implemented in 2015 as a directive in the EU. Objectives: To examine the temporal trend of chromium contact allergy in adult dermatitis patients patch tested between 2002 and 2017, and to determine clinical characteristics and causative exposures in these patients. Methods: All adult dermatitis patients patch tested between 2002 and 2017 were included. Patch test data were reviewed retrospectively. Comparisons were performed with the χ 2 test and logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 13 379 adults aged 18 to 99 years were patch tested between 2002 and 2017. The overall prevalence of chromium allergy was 2.2%. An overall decreasing trend was found for the prevalence of chromium allergy ( P trend = 0.00002). Specifically, a significant difference was found for the study periods 2010 to 2013 ( P trend = 0.002) and 2014 to 2017 ( P trend < 0.0001) as compared with 2002 to 2005. Leather remained the most important single cause of allergic contact dermatitis caused by chromium. The proportion of clinically relevant leather exposures increased from 42.3% during 2002 to 2009 to 54.8% during 2010 to 2017 ( P = 0.04). Conclusions: The prevalence of chromium allergy is decreasing. The EU Directive restricting the use of hexavalent chromium in leather goods is thought to be playing a central role in this change.