Prevention of allergic contact dermatitis: Safe exposure levels of sensitizers

Abstract

The overall prevalence of contact allergy in the general population is high, and nickel, fragrances, and preservatives remain the most common causative allergens. Past contact allergy epidemics have several common features. Allergic contact dermatitis is first described among workers, and later, among consumers. Once the epidemic is established, it tends to be long-lasting as allergens persist in consumer products for decades. Thus, when consumer cases are reported in the medical literature, one should suspect that many subjects in the general population are already sensitized and that morbidity may increase unless something radical is done. The control of contact allergy epidemics has traditionally been achieved through communication between toxicologists, dermatologists, and administrators. Generally, public and industrial interference is negligible and rarely affect the course of an epidemic. Different measures to prevent contact allergy epidemics are discussed in this chapter. Liberty does not import an absolute right in each person to be, at all times and in all circumstances, wholly freed from restraint. There are manifold restraints to which every person is necessarily subject for the common good. On any other basis organized society could not exist with safety to its members-A fundamental principle of the social compact is that the whole people covenants with each citizen, and each citizen with the whole people, that all shall be governed by certain laws for the common good, for the protection, safety, prosperity and happiness of the people, and not for the profit, honor or private interests of any one man, family or class of men. Supreme Court Associate Justice, John Harlan (1905) © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.