Temporal changes in chromium allergy in Denmark between 2002 and 2017
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review › Research › peer-review
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.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Contact Dermatitis |
Volume | 80 |
Issue number | 3 |
Pages (from-to) | 156-161 |
Number of pages | 6 |
ISSN | 0105-1873 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2019 |
- chromium, contact allergy, hexavalent, leather, prevalence, regulation, trend
Research areas
ID: 235967646