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The terms deodorants and antiperspirants very frequently used interchangeably despite the fact that they employ completely different active substances and mechanisms of action. Antiperspirants are necessarily deodorants due to the lack of substrate to decompose. They nevertheless represent a group of very specific substances that create particular problems due to the presence of aluminium chlorohydrate, or ACH, (Al 2 (OH) 5 Cl, 2H 2 O), aluminium sesquichlorohydrate and aluminium-zirconium complex, which, after hydrolysis, causes intense acidification of the skin, hence the importance of inclusion of emollients and pH regulators in formulations. Moreover, systemic aluminium is thought to be genotoxic and to promote breast cancer, and it is thus at the centre of numerous scientific controversies. Nevertheless, its potential toxicity following topical application is related to its ability to penetrate skin, which is as yet poorly understood but considered very low, a fact that may provide some degree of reassurance regarding its use in cosmetic products. Its role in Alzheimer's disease has not been proven. On the other hand, zirconium salts are considered toxic and are partly regulated in Europe. The problems associated with deodorants are those arising from the presence of antiseptics (triclosan, usnic acid) capable of inducing bacterial resistance, but more particularly, the presence of axillary dermatitis due to the allergenic potential of the fragrances and essential oils used (e.g. isoeugenol, citronellal, lyral, cinnamic aldehyde, etc.)., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Two analytical methods were developed using electrochemical and spectrometric techniques for the simultaneous determination of endocrine disruptors triclosan and methylparaben in the monitoring of personal care products. For the electroanalytical analyses, a sensitive electrode based on graphene quantum dots supported in chitosan was employed. Under optimized conditions and a working potential of typically + 0.60 V for triclosan and + 0.81 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) for methylparaben, the calibration plots obtained by differential pulse voltammetry were linear in the range 0.10 to 10.0 μmol L -1 . The detection limits were 0.03 and 0.04 μmol L -1 for triclosan and methylparaben, respectively. For the spectrometric method, UV/VIS spectrometry was used with a mathematical processing of non-linear deconvolution. This processing was used to solve the problem of overlapping absorption bands of triclosan (282 nm) and methylparaben (257 nm), which enabled simultaneous determination. The calibration plots by UV/VIS spectrometry were linear in the range 1.0 to 14.0 μmol L -1 with detection limits of 0.42 and 0.37 μmol L -1 , respectively, for triclosan and methylparaben. Similar results obtained from the calibration plots of individual analytes suggest that the methods can be applied for individual or simultaneous determination of these species. Both methods were employed in the analysis of five samples of personal care products: toothpaste, antiseptic soap, antiseptic deodorant, shampoo, and a bath kit (soap and shampoo). The statistical tests indicated that there were no significant differences regarding the accuracy and precision of the data provided by the two methods described herein. Graphical abstract Schematic representation for simultaneous determination of triclosan and methylparaben: electrochemical method employing an electrode modified with graphene quantum dots supported in chitosan and spectrometric method applying a non-linear deconvolution of spectrum.

Air fresheners contain various chemicals that may or may not be harmful to human health and the environment. These products are widely used in different settings such as homes, schools, offices, and hospitals with ignorance of their real ingredients and their relative health effects. Thus, this preliminary study was carried out to identify the presence of different compounds in spray air fresheners that were not disclosed on the product's label. Four different brands of spray air fresheners were selected randomly from a local store, in which two were of mid-to-high cost and the remaining two of low cost. The samples were analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry headspace, in which single components of the samples were identified by the mass spectrometry detector. The results were shown as a chromatogram of several peaks, each representing different compounds. The chemicals found in the samples include; lilial, galaxolide, benzenemethanol, musk ketone, butylated hydroxytoluene, and linalool. These chemicals may cause irritation and other health problems. However, none of them were revealed on the product's label. The study concludes that air fresheners need to be free of any toxic or harmful chemicals and include natural ingredients instead., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interests regarding the publication of this manuscript., (Copyright © 2019 Fatima Ibrahim ALshaer et al.)

Wet scrubbing is regarded as an effective method to remove hydrophobic organic odorants. The focus of wet scrubbing is to choose an appropriate scrubbing liquid. In this study, methyl mercaptan (CH 3 SH) was selected as a representative hydrophobic organic odorant for treatment by wet scrubbing using several types of scrubbing solution: ethanol (C 2 H 5 OH), lead acetate ((CH 3 COO) 2 Pb), sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). A comparative analysis of the treatment efficiency, operation cost, and environmental impact was conducted. Results of the technical and economic comparison indicate that the C 2 H 5 OH solution is the best choice of scrubbing solution among those tested. These findings serve as a reference for engineering design and operation for the removal of hydrophobic organic odorants.

A fast and simple dilute-and-shoot procedure for determination of Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sc, Ti, V, Zn and Zr in deodorants by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) was developed. Sample preparation was carried out by diluting 1 mL of deodorant sample in 1% (v v -1 ) HNO 3 . The accuracy of the analytical procedure was evaluated using addition and recovery experiments, and recoveries ranged from 80 to 119%. The limits of detection varied from 0.001 to 0.76 mg kg -1 . Nine deodorants samples of different brands were analyzed. The maximum concentrations found (mg kg -1 ) were: Fe (1.0), Mn (0.1), Ti (1.02), V (0.33), Zn (255.2) and Zr (0.5); for Al and Mg, determined concentrations varied from 0.01 to 7.0% and from 0.005 to 1.44 mg kg -1 , respectively, showing wide variation depending on the sample type. The developed procedure was adequate for determining these analytes in routine analysis presenting high sample throughput and demonstrated the feasibility of direct analysis measurements after simple dilution step., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: More than 25% of the adult European population suffers from contact allergy, with fragrance substances recognized as one of the main causes. Since 2005, 26 fragrance contact allergens have been mandatory to label in cosmetic products within the EU if present at 10 ppm or above in leave-on and 100 ppm or above in wash-off cosmetics., Objective: To examine exposure, based on ingredient labelling, to the 26 fragrances in a sample of 5588 fragranced cosmetic products., Methods: The investigated products were identified through a novel, non-profit smartphone application (app), designed to provide information to consumers about chemical substances in cosmetic products. Products registered through the app between December 2015 and October 2016 were label checked according to International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) for the presence of the 26 fragrance substances or the wording 'fragrance/parfum/aroma'., Results: The largest product categories investigated were 'cream, lotion and oil' (n = 1192), 'shampoo and conditioner' (n = 968) and 'deodorants' (n = 632). Among cosmetic products labelled to contain at least one of the 26 fragrances, 85.5% and 73.9% contained at least two and at least three of the 26 fragrances, respectively. Linalool (49.5%) and limonene (48.5%) were labelled most often among all investigated products. Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (HICC/Lyral ® ) was found in 13.5% of deodorants. Six of the 26 fragrance substances were labelled on less than one per cent of all products, including the natural extracts Evernia furfuracea (tree moss) and Evernia prunastri (oak moss). A total of 329 (5.9%) products had one or more of the 26 fragrance substances labelled but did not have 'parfum/fragrance/aroma' listed on the label., Conclusions: Consumers are widely exposed to, often multiple, well-established fragrance contact allergens through various cosmetic products intended for daily use. Several fragrance substances that are common causes of contact allergy were rarely labelled in this large sample of cosmetic products., (© 2017 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Background: Over the last decade, the possible association between underarm deodorants/ antiperspirants use and breast cancer risk has raised important interest in the scientific community. The objective of our systematic review is to estimate the pooled risk of deodorants/antiperspirants use for breast cancer., Methods: All observational studies that evaluated the association between breast cancer risk and deodorants/antiperspirants use were reviewed. We have only identified two case-control studies, carried out between 2002 and 2006., Results: The first study was conducted in USA and investigated the possible relationship between use of products applied for underarm perspiration and the risk for breast cancer in women aged 20-74 years. This population-based case-control study gathered information by in-person interview. The second study was conducted in Iraq and investigated the possible relationship between use of antiperspirants and the risk for breast cancer in women attending a teaching hospital. This study also gathered information by in-person interview. There was no risk of antiperspirants use in the pooled risk (odds ratio 0.40, 95% confidence interval 0.35-0.46)., Conclusion: Our comprehensive search has identified an insufficient number of studies to conduct a quantitative review and obtain reliable results. Further prospective studies are strongly needed., (Copyright© by the National Institute of Public Health, Prague 2016)

Mosquitoes display biting preferences among different sites of the human body. In addition to height or convection currents, body odour may play a role in the selection of these biting sites. Previous studies have shown that skin emanations are important host-finding cues for mosquitoes. In this study, skin emanations were collected from armpits, hands and feet; the volatile profiles were analysed and tested for their attractiveness to the malaria mosquito Anopheles coluzzii. Skin emanations collected from armpits were less attractive to An. coluzzii compared to hands or/and feet. The difference may have been caused by deodorant residues, which were found in the armpit samples and not in those of hands and feet. In a subsequent experiment, volunteers were asked to avoid using skincare products for five days, and thereafter, no differences in attractiveness of the body parts to mosquitoes were found. The detected deodorant compound isopropyl tetradecanoate inhibited mosquito landings in a repellent bioassay. It is concluded that the volatiles emanated from different body parts induced comparable levels of attraction in mosquitoes, and that skincare products may reduce a person's attractiveness to mosquitoes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to prove the capability of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) to interact with some representative molecules responsible to cause body malodour, such as carboxylic acids, thiols and steroids, present in sweat and body secretions., Methods: The association constants in guest-CD were determined by (1) H-NMR spectroscopy for thiols and steroids such as 3-mercapto-1-hexanol, androstenone, androstenol and androsterone, and pH-potentiometric titration for acetic acid, l(+) lactic acid, isobutyric acid, isovaleric acid and 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-hexanoic acid., Results: All considered systems are able to interact with relatively weak association constants with β-cyclodextrin, in a 1 : 1 host-guest ratio., Conclusion: From these findings, it is possible to conclude that β-CD is capable to interact with different components present in the sweat and body secretion, forming inclusion complexes. For this reason, β-CD could be a component of body care formulations, such as deodorants., (© 2015 Society of Cosmetic Scientists and the Société Française de Cosmétologie.)

We established an analytical method for the detection of seven phthalates, dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate (DEP), benzyl butyl phthalate, di-i-butyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), and di-n-octhyl phthalate, using an ultra high performance liquid chromatograph equipped with a photodiode array detector. This method is quick, with minimal contamination, and was applied to the analysis of aromatic and deodorant aerosol products. Phthalates were detected in 15 of 52 samples purchased from 1999 to 2012 in Yokohama. Three types of phthalate (DEP, DBP, DEHP) were detected, and their concentrations ranged from 0.0085-0.23% DEP in nine samples, 0.012-0.045% DBP in four samples, and 0.012-0.033% DEHP in four samples. No other phthalate esters were detected. Furthermore, we estimated phthalate exposure via breathing in commonly used aromatic and deodorant aerosol products, then evaluated the associated risk. The estimated levels of phthalate exposure were lower than the tolerated daily limit, but the results indicated that aromatic and deodorant aerosol products could be a significant source of phthalate exposure.

Today, axilla odours are socially stigmatized and are targeted with deodorants and antiperspirants representing a multi-billion market. Axilla odours aren't simple byproducts of our metabolism but specifically formed by an intricate interplay between i) specific glands, ii) secreted amino acid conjugates of highly specific odorants and iii) selective enzymes present in microorganisms colonizing our skin, providing a natural 'controlled-release' mechanism. Within a multidisciplinary research project, we were able to elucidate the structure of key body odorants, isolate and characterize secreted amino acid conjugates and identify the enzymes responsible for odour release. These enzymes then served as targets for the development of specific active compounds in an almost medicinal chemistry approach, an approach rarely used in the cosmetic field so far. Here we review the key new insights into the biochemistry of human body odour formation, with some remarks on the experimental steps undertaken and hurdles encountered. The development of deodorant actives and the difficult path to market for such specifically acting cosmetic actives is discussed. The basic insights into the biochemistry also opened the way to address some questions in population genetics: Why have large proportions of Asians lost the 'ability' to form body odours? Do twins smell the same? Are our typical body odours indeed influenced by the immune system as often claimed? After addressing these questions, I'll conclude with the key remaining challenges in this field on an ecological niche that is 'anatomically very close to our heart'.

Purpose: Deodorant use during radiation therapy for breast cancer has been controversial as there are concerns deodorant use may exacerbate axillary skin toxicity. The present study prospectively determined the use of both aluminum-containing and non aluminum containing deodorants on axillary skin toxicity during conventionally fractionated postoperative radiation therapy for breast cancer., Methods and Materials: This 3-arm randomized controlled study was conducted at a single center, tertiary cancer hospital between March 2011 and April 2013. Participants were randomized to 1 of 2 experimental groups (aluminum-containing deodorant and soap or non-aluminum containing deodorant and soap) or a control group (soap). A total of 333 participants were randomized. Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate and compare the odds of experiencing high levels of sweating and skin toxicity in each of the deodorant groups to the odds in the control group. The study evaluated a range of endpoints including objective measurements of axilla sweating, skin toxicity, pain, itch and burning. Quality of life was assessed with a validated questionnaire., Results: Radiation characteristics were similar across all groups. Patients in the deodorant groups did not report significantly different ratings for axillary pain, itch, or burning compared with the control group. Patients in the aluminum-containing deodorant group experienced significantly less sweating than the control; the odds of their sweating being barely tolerable and frequently or always interfering with their daily activities was decreased by 85% (odds ratio, 0.15; 95% confidence interval, 0.03-0.91)., Conclusions: We found no evidence that the use of either aluminum-containing or non-aluminum containing deodorant adversely effects axillary skin reaction during conventionally fractionated radiation therapy for breast cancer. Our analysis also suggests patients in the aluminum-containing deodorant arm had significantly less sweating without increased symptoms of axillary radiation skin toxicity. These results add to the evidence that the prescription of deodorants during radiation therapy for breast cancer is now questionable., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether different kinds of underarm deodorants commercially available in Germany might contain substances with estrogenic potential which after use enter the aquatic environment via wastewater. Twenty five deodorants produced by ten different manufacturers in the form of sprays, roll-ons and sticks were investigated using an in vitro-test system (E-Screen assay) for the determination of estrogenic activity based on the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Seven out of ten spray deodorant samples showed a quantifiable estrogenic activity. In the case of the sticks and roll-ons it was only one out of six and one out of nine, respectively. The 17β-estradiol equivalent concentrations (EEQs) of the samples ranged from 0.1 ng g(-1) to 9 ng g(-1) deodorant. Spray deodorant samples showed the highest activities in the E-Screen assay compared to the stick and roll-on deodorants. In order to identify substances possibly contributing to the observed biological activity the samples were additionally analyzed by GC/MS. The obtained results of this non-target screening led to the selection of 62 single substances present in the deodorants which for their part were analyzed by E-Screen assay. Eight of these single substances, all of them fragrances, showed estrogenic effects with estradiol equivalence factors (EEFs) similar to parabens, a group of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid esters commonly used as preservatives in personal care products, which are known to have a slight estrogenic effect. Thus, these fragrances are obviously responsible to a substantial degree for the observed estrogenic activity of the deodorants., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

An odor-based sensor system that exploits the metabolic enzyme tryptophanase (TPase) as the key component is reported. This enzyme is able to convert an odorless substrate like S-methyl-L-cysteine or L-tryptophan into the odorous products methyl mercaptan or indole. To make a biosensor, TPase was biotinylated so that it could be coupled with a molecular recognition element, such as an antibody, to develop an ELISA-like assay. This method was used for the detection of an antibody present in nM concentrations by the human nose. TPase can also be combined with the enzyme pyridoxal kinase (PKase) for use in a coupled assay to detect adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP). When ATP is present in the low μM concentration range, the coupled enzymatic system generates an odor that is easily detectable by the human nose. Biotinylated TPase can be combined with various biotin-labeled molecular recognition elements, thereby enabling a broad range of applications for this odor-based reporting system., (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Background: Fragrances frequently cause contact allergy, and cosmetic products are the main causes of fragrance contact allergy. As the various products have distinctive forms of application and composition of ingredients, some product groups are potentially more likely to play a part in allergic reactions than others., Aim: To determine which cosmetic product groups cause fragrance allergy among Danish eczema patients., Method: This was a retrospective study based on data collected by members of the Danish Contact Dermatitis Group. Participants (N = 17,716) were consecutively patch tested with fragrance markers from the European baseline series (2005-2009)., Results: Of the participants, 10.1% had fragrance allergy, of which 42.1% was caused by a cosmetic product: deodorants accounted for 25%, and scented lotions 24.4%. A sex difference was apparent, as deodorants were significantly more likely to be listed as the cause of fragrance allergy in men (odds ratio 2.2) than in women. Correlation was observed between deodorants listed as the cause of allergy and allergy detected with fragrance mix II (FM II) and hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde., Conclusion: Deodorants were the leading causes of fragrance allergy, especially among men. Seemingly, deodorants have an 'unhealthy' composition of the fragrance chemicals present in FM II., (© 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

The positive role and application of highly accurate mass measurements in proteomics is well documented. The new generation of hybrid FTMS and Q-TOF instruments, including the LTQ-Orbitrap (OT), is remarkable in their ability to routinely produce single-digit to subppm statistical mass accuracy while maintaining high analytical sensitivity. The use of mass calibrants (lock masses) to reduce the systematic error of mass-to-charge measurements has also been reported and, in some cases, incorporated in the instrument control software by the instrument manufacturers. We evaluated the use of one such calibrant in the OT (e.g., polydimethylcyclosiloxane, PCM) to study its impact on the rate of phosphopeptide annotation and found it to lack robustness under normal laboratory conditions. Therefore, we devised a strategy to improve its performance by increasing the external abundance of calibrant molecules in laboratory air. This resulted in a more robust performance of the preprogrammed lock mass recalibration feature as evidenced by improvements in both statistical mass accuracy and peptide annotation rates.

Based on the observation of a high incidence of breast cancer in the upper outer quadrant adjacent to the usual area of application of deodorants and/or antiperspirants, several scientific teams have advanced the hypothesis of a possible link between antiperspirants and breast cancer. The possibility of the involvement of parabens and aluminium salts, traditional components of a number of cosmetic products, has been advanced by the same teams. In order to ascertain whether this hypothesis could or could not be confirmed, a group of clinical experts in oncology was set up to search and analyse the literature data relating to the problem raised with the aim of answering three predefined questions: 1) does it exist experimental or biological arguments supporting a potential link between the use of deodorants/antiperspirants and breast cancer? 2) Does the use of deodorants/antiperspirants have any effect on the increase in the risk of breast cancer? 3) Could a causal relationship between the use of deodorants/antiperspirants and breast cancer be accepted? The scientific data were searched systematically in the PubMed database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez) using standardised search equations. Fifty-nine studies resulting from the literature search were reviewed and nineteen articles with various methodologies were selected for in-depth analysis. In view of the fact that parabens are generally not present in deodorants/antiperspirants, the reflection group's search related purely to the question of aluminium salts. Among these nineteen articles, many are methodologically unsound, do not answer to the questions posed or deal with the question of parabens and were therefore discarded by the reflection group. The expert group's conclusion coincides with those of the French, European and American health authorities. After analysis of the available literature on the subject, no scientific evidence to support the hypothesis was identified and no validated hypothesis appears likely to open the way to interesting avenues of research.

The present study investigated the emissions of naphthalene and other compounds from several different moth repellents (MRs) and one toilet deodorant block (TDB) currently sold in Korea, using a headspace analysis. The emission factors and emission rates of naphthalene were studied using a small-scale environmental chamber. Paper-type products emitted a higher concentration of the total volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (normalized to the weight of test piece) than ball-type products, which in turn emitted higher concentration than a gel-type product. In contrast, naphthalene was either the most or the second highest abundant compound for the four ball products, whereas for paper and gel products it was not detected or was detected at much lower levels. The abundance of naphthalene ranged between 18.4% and 37.3% for ball products. The results showed that the lower the air changes per hour (ACH) level was, the higher the naphthalene concentrations became. In general, a low ACH level suggests a low ventilation rate. The emission factor for naphthalene was nearly 100 times higher for a ball MR than for a gel or a paper MR. For the ball MR, the lower ACH level resulted in higher emission rate.

A comparison of the human health risk to consumers using one of two types of toilet rimblock products, either a p-dichlorobenzene-based rimblock or two newer fragrance/surfactant-based alternatives, was conducted. Rimblock products are designed for global use by consumers worldwide and function by releasing volatile compounds into indoor air with subsequent exposure presumed to be mainly by inhalation of indoor air. Using the THERdbASE exposure model and experimentally determined emission data, indoor air concentrations and daily intake values were determined for both types of rimblock products. Modeled exposure concentrations from a representative p-dichlorobenzene rimblock product are an order of magnitude higher than those from the alternative rimblock products due to its nearly pure composition and high sublimation rate. Lifetime exposure to p-dichlorobenzene or the subset of fragrance components with available RfD values is not expected to lead to non-cancer-based adverse health effects based on the exposure concentrations estimated using the THERdbASE model. A similar comparison of cancer-based effects was not possible as insufficient data were available for the fragrance components.

Background: The seventh amendment of the European Union (EU) Cosmetics Directive (March 2005) and the Detergents Regulations of the EU (October 2005) are now legal requirements in Europe. Cosmetic products and detergents must be labelled for 26 individual named fragrances, when present at concentrations of > 10 parts per million (p.p.m.) in leave-on products and > 100 p.p.m. in rinse-off products., Objectives: To make an assessment of the exposure pattern to fragrance of the U.K. consumer and to determine the frequency with which the constituent fragrances of fragrance mix I (FM I) and fragrance mix II (FM II) are included in products currently sold in the U.K., Methods: A study of perfumed cosmetic and household products available on the shelves of U.K. retailers was carried out in January 2006. Products were included if 'parfum' or 'aroma' was listed among the ingredients. Three hundred products were surveyed and any of the 26 listed fragrances named on the label were recorded., Results: The top six most frequently labelled fragrances were linalool (190; 63%), limonene (189; 63%), citronellol (145; 48%), geraniol (126; 42%), butyl phenyl methyl propional (Lilial(trade mark)) (126; 42%) and hexyl cinnamal (125; (42%). One of these, geraniol, is present in FM I and two others, citronellol and hexyl cinnamal, in FM II, thus tested as part of the British Standard patch test series. The frequencies of other constituents of FM I were as follows: eugenol, 80 (27%); hydroxycitronellal, 52 (17%); isoeugenol, 27 (9%); cinnamic alcohol, 25 (8%); amyl cinnamal, 22 (7%); cinnamal, 17 (6%); Evernia prunastri (oak moss absolute), 13 (4%). The other constituents of FM II occurred as follows: coumarin, 90 (30%); hydroxyisohexyl-3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (Lyral(trade mark)), 88 (29%); citral, 74 (25%); farnesol, 23 (8%). Linalool (n = 46; 66%) was the most frequently found fragrance in 70 personal care products (soap, shampoo, shower gel). Linalool (n = 47; 80%) and limonene (n = 45; 76%) were the most frequent in 59 products for men (e.g. aftershave). Limonene (n = 29; 51%) predominated in 57 household products (washing-up liquid, detergent). Limonene (n = 43; 98%) and linalool (n = 42; 95%) were the most frequent fragrances in 44 perfumes for women. Alpha-isomethyl ionone (n = 28; 72%) was the most frequent in 39 cosmetics (foundation, lipstick, etc). Citronellol predominated (n = 15; 88%) in 17 deodorants and limonene (n = 9; 64%) was the commonest in 14 dental products (toothpaste and mouthwash). Thirty-four products (11%) contained none of the listed fragrances but were labelled as containing 'parfum' or 'aroma'., Conclusions: There is ongoing consumer exposure to the most frequent sensitizers in FM I: E. prunastri, isoeugenol and the cinnamon fragrances cinnamal and cinnamic alcohol. Hydroxyisohexyl-3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (Lyral(trade mark)) is present at significant concentrations in almost one-third of products. Linalool and limonene, fragrance terpenes which are significant allergens in their oxidized state, are the most frequent fragrances encountered by individuals living in the U.K. The current exposure pattern of the U.K. consumer suggests that we should add oxidized limonene and oxidized linalool to the test series for patients suspected to have fragrance allergy.

Volatile solvent abuse (VSA) is defined at the "intentional inhalation of a volatile substance for the purpose of achieving a euphoric state". The lifetime prevalence of VSA in the UK remains steady at around 15%, the fourth highest rate in Europe, and VSA is the most common form of drug abuse in the 11-15 year age group in England and Wales. A 13 year old girl presented to the accident and emergency unit following inhalation of butane based deodorant, which resulted in a prolonged semiconscious state with encephalopathic symptoms.

Caffeoyl quinic acid (CQA) derivatives in ku-ding-cha, mate, coffee, and related plants were determined by HPLC. One ku-ding-cha contained a large amount of 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-diCQA, 10.6% in dry weight) as well as 3-CQA (1.7%), 4-CQA (1.1%), 5-CQA (6.3%), 3,4-diCQA (1.8%), and 4,5-diCQA (4.3%). In this ku-ding-cha, the total caffeic acid moiety was 90.3 mmol/100 g of dry weight. The leaves of Ilex latifolia, which is one original species of ku-ding-cha, and another plant of the same genus, I. rotunda, also contained 3,5-diCQA (9.5 and 14.6%), 3-CQA (4.3 and 1.9%), and 5-CQA (4.8 and 3.8%), respectively, whereas raw coffee bean contained 5.5% 5-CQA and other low CQA derivatives. 3,5-DiCQA and 5-CQA with an apple acetone powder (AP) containing polyphenol oxidase showed high capturing activities toward thiols, and two addition compounds between 3,5-diCQA and methane thiol were also identified. Ku-ding-cha indicated extremely strong capturing activities toward methanethiol, propanethiol, and 2-propenethiol in the presence of apple AP. Furthermore, drinking ku-ding-cha reduced the amount of allyl methyl sulfide gas, well-known to persist as malodorous breath long after the ingestion of garlic.

Deofix, N,N',N"-tris(dihydroxyphosphorylmethyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane, is a high-affinity, high-specificity chelator for first transition series cations such as iron, zinc, manganese, and copper. A 1% solution in 50% ethanol was found to be significantly better at reducing underarm malodor than a solution of 0.3% Triclosan in 50% ethanol. Compared to a 50% alcohol control, Deofix was found to produce a significant reduction in malodor for at least 48 hours. Deofix appears to work by reducing the concentration of first transition series metal ions below the levels needed for microbial cell reproduction and by inhibiting oxidative processes by interfering with catalytic formation of free radicals. Deofix has very low levels of toxicity when measured via a number of screening techniques.

A titration procedure that simultaneously monitors the pH and turbidity of an antiperspirant solution during neutralization with sodium hydroxide was developed to characterize antiperspirant actives. Aluminum chloride, aluminum chlorohydrate (ACH), and aluminum zirconium glycine complex (AZG) gave distinctive pH/turbidity profiles. The activated forms of aluminum chlorohydrate (ACH') and aluminum zirconium glycine complex (AZG') produced more turbidity than the non-activated forms. On an equimolar basis, AZG' produced more turbidity than any of the antiperspirant actives tested.

Most people in modern society are exposed daily to fragrance ingredients from one or more sources. Fragrance ingredients are also one of the most frequent causes of contact allergic reactions. The diagnosis is made by patch testing with a mixture of fragrance ingredients, the fragrance mix. This gives a positive patch-test reaction in about 10% of tested patients with eczema, and the most recent estimates show that 1.7-4.1% of the general population are sensitized to ingredients of the fragrance mix. Fragrance allergy occurs predominantly in women with facial or hand eczema. These women typically have a history of rash to a fine fragrance or scented deodorants. Chemical analysis has revealed that well known allergens from the fragrance mix are present in 15-100% of cosmetic products, including deodorants and fine fragrances, and most often in combinations of three to four allergens in the same products. This means that it is difficult to avoid exposure, as products labelled as 'fragrance free' have also been shown to contain fragrance ingredients, either because of the use of fragrance ingredients as preservatives or masking perfumes, or the use of botanicals. About 2500 different fragrance ingredients are currently used in the composition of perfumes and at least 100 of these are known contact allergens. Therefore, it is advisable to supplement standard patch testing with the patient's own stay-on cosmetic products, as well as the fragrance chemical hydroxyisohexyl-3-cyclohexane carboxaldehyde, which on its own gives responses in 1-3% of tested patients. The focus in recent years on the ingredients of the fragrance mix will probably result in the fragrance industry changing the composition of perfumes, and thus make the current diagnostic test less useful. New diagnostic tests are under development to identify contact allergy to new allergens, reflecting the continuous developments and trends in exposure.

Recent studies have suggested that short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) exert a therapeutic effect on some human and experimental animal diseases. In a previous study, we showed that Clostridium butyricum produces high levels of SCFAs in the culture system used. In addition, an additive based on yogurt was effective in eliminating and masking the odor derived from SCFAs in the product. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects for oral administration of the product, which was derived from Clostridium butyricum and contains a high level of SCFAs, in rats. Male and female Wistar Hannover GALAS rats, 5 weeks old, were allowed a mixture of the standard diet plus the product derived from Clostridium butyricum (50% w/w) with 0.1% additive for 17 days (n=6). The control rats were also allowed a standard diet plus tap water (50% w/w) with 0.1% additive (n=6). After 17 days, a laparotomy was performed. A hemocyte count, and biochemical and electrolyte analyses were subsequently carried out. The esophagus, stomach, small intestine, cecum and large intestine were investigated macroscopically and microscopically. Results showed that the rats grew normally for the duration of the experimental period. In particular, the body weights of the product-fed male rats were significantly increased as compared to those of the control-fed male rats. There were no significant differences in the organic weight between the product-fed and control-fed rats, except for a significantly increased weight of the small intestine in the product-fed female rats. No pathological abnormalities were found in the hemocyte count, the biochemical and electrolyte analyses, or the macroscopic and microscopic findings. It is possible that this novel product with the additive exerts therapeutic effects on some gastrointestinal disorders.

At the accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) laboratory in Lund, a facility for (26)Al analysis is under development. The sensitivity is expected to be several orders of magnitude higher than with standard mass spectrometry. The planned biomedical program includes studies of aluminium uptake, distribution and retention in man. The initial work has been concentrated on the construction and testing of a new dedicated injector for the accelerator and on the preparation of biological samples for aluminium analysis. The current quality of the facility is presented and the first experimental results reported.

Deodorants are one of the most frequently-used types of cosmetics and are a source of allergic contact dermatitis. Therefore, a gas chromatography - mass spectrometric analysis of 71 deodorants was performed for identification of fragrance and non-fragrance materials present in marketed deodorants. Futhermore, the sensitizing potential of these molecules was evaluated using structure activity relationships (SARs) analysis. This was based on the presence of 1 or more chemically reactive site(s), in the chemical structure, associated with sensitizing potential. Among the many different substances used to formulate cosmetic products (over 3500), 226 chemicals were identified in a sample of 71 deodorants. 84 molecules were found to contain at least 1 structural alert, and 70 to belong to, or be susceptible to being metabolized into, the chemical group of aldehydes, ketones and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes, ketone or esters. The combination of GC-MS and SARs analysis could be helpful in the selection of substances for supplementary investigations regarding sensitizing properties. Thus, it may be a valuable tool in the management of contact allergy to deodorants and for producing new deodorants with decreased propensity to cause contact allergy.

Deodorants are one of the most marketed types of cosmetics and are frequently reported as a cause of dermatitis, particularly among fragrance-sensitive persons. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of deodorants, which had previously caused axillary dermatitis in fragrance-mix-sensitive eczema patients, to provoke reactions on repeated open application tests on the upper arm and in the axillae, and to relate the findings to the content of fragrance-mix constituents in those deodorants. 14 eczema patients performed a 7-day use test with 1 or 2 deodorants that had caused a rash within the last 12 months. 2 applications per day were made in the axilla and simultaneously on a 25 cm2 area on the upper arm. A total of 20 deodorants were tested among the 14 patients. Afterwards, the deodorants were subjected to quantitative chemical analysis identifying constituents of the fragrance mix. 12/20 (60%) deodorants elicited eczema on use testing in the axilla. 8/12 deodorants were positive in the axilla on day (D) 7 and 4 both in the axilla and on the upper arm. 2 of the 4 developed a reaction in the axilla before it developed on the upper arm. Chemical analysis revealed that 18/19 deodorants contained between 1 and 6 of the fragrance-mix constituents, on average 3 being found. The mean concentration of fragrance-mix constituents was generally higher in the deodorants causing a positive use test, as compared with those giving a negative reaction, indicating that the differences between the deodorants in terms of elicitation potential were more related to quantitative aspects of allergen content than of a qualitative nature. It is recommended that deodorants are tested in the axilla in the case of a negative use test on the upper arm and a strong clinical suspicion.

Deodorants are one of the most frequently used types of cosmetics and side-effects from them are common. Recent studies relate perfume allergy to this type of product. 73 deodorants were analyzed by gas chromatography--mass spectrometry for the determination of the contents of 7 wellknown fragrance allergens from the fragrance mix and 14 other commonly used fragrance materials. The deodorants were purchased at retail outlets in 5 European countries. It was found that in general, fragrance mix ingredients were more frequently present in vapo- and aerosol sprays than in roll-on products. The levels of the fragrance mix substances ranged from 0.0001-0.2355%. The products investigated contained cinnamic aldehyde and isoeugenol less frequently (17% and 29% respectively), and eugenol and geraniol most frequently (57% and 76% respectively). The 14 other fragrance materials were found in 40-97% of the deodorants, with hedione and benzyl acetate the most frequently found substances. The concentration of these 14 substances ranged from 0.0001-2.7%. It is concluded that the levels of cinnamic aldehyde and isoeugenol found in the deodorants could prove to be relevant for elicitation of contact dermatitis. No conclusions could be drawn about the other fragrance mix constituents, as threshold levels in sensitized individuals have not been investigated. Furthermore, all of the fragrance materials investigated were frequently found in deodorants and, apart from the fragrance mix ingredients, the extent of problems with sensitization to these fragrance materials is largely unknown.