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My friend neoprene, allergen of the year
By Olga Naidenko, EWG Senior Scientist
In 2009, the dubious distinction of the "allergen of the year" was awarded to a group of chemicals most of us have never heard of: mixed dialkyl thioureas. Mixed who?
These chemicals are common additives found in everyday neoprene synthetic rubber products - everything from computer mouse pads to shoes, athletic braces and wetsuits.
Based on 10 years of research conducted by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group, dialkyl thioureas prove to be the most common culprit of neoprene allergy.
According to a press release from the group's 2009 annual meeting:
Many cases of allergic contact dermatitis from the allergens in neoprene have been reported, including cases caused by rubber orthopedic braces, prostheses, splints, and foot supports; athletic shoes; rubber masks; swim goggles; wet suits; a slimming suit; a computer wrist rest; a sleep apnea mask; neoprene gloves; and rubber-based materials in automobiles...Experiments have shown that large quantities of thioureas are leached from rubber compounds, and the level of the leached thiourea compounds was found to be sufficient to elicit allergic contact dermatitis.
When allergen-containing neoprene products touch the skin, a susceptible person typically experiences a reaction that can range from redness to blistering. Often, avoiding the neoprene products is the only solution because protective covering of the offending material is either impractical or insufficient. For example, if neoprene footwear is the main source of allergic exposure, socks would not help because sweat actually causes the allergen to leach out of the shoe and onto the skin.
Yet another reason we need chemical policy reform
This is yet another reason for a reform in our chemicals policy so that manufacturers would need to prove their products are safe before putting them on the market, rather than testing them on customers (that's us).
The latest science on neoprene allergy is a timely reminder that a significant number of products on the market contain ingredients whose safety has not been adequately tested and demonstrated. As shoppers, we have the right to demand and expect that toxic ingredients should not be used in everyday products.
Contact allergy is, of course, one type of toxicity among many that may be associated with toxic chemicals. Yet, identifying sources of allergy is a very important start. Kudos to the American Contact Dermatitis Society for bringing attention to allergens that are very common but under-recognized - even though they may cause significant contact dermatitis.
Some other award-winning allergens to avoid
A few other lucky winners of the "Allergen of the Year" title:
- 2008 - Nickel
- 2007 - Fragrance
- 2006 - Commercial hair dye ingredient p-phenylenediamine
- 2005 - Topical corticosteroids
- 2004 - Cocamidopropyl betaine, a hair & skin-conditioning agent
Unfortunately, many of these allergens and irritants are commonly found in cosmetics and personal care products. For example, Skin Deep, EWG's Cosmetic Safety Database, lists:
- 18,818 products containing fragrance
- 1,525 products containing p-phenylenediamine
- 3,417 products containing cocamidopropyl betaine
What can you do? Once again, the best advice we have for shoppers is to be very vigilant in reading labels and looking for products that don't contain these ingredients! Check out our tips on deciphering cosmetics labels.
[Thanks to Flickr & creative666 for the great wetsuit pic]
Not only have sensitive consumers are put at risk, the people who work in the supply chain have been also. Studies have been conducted over the years that these workers face potential health hazards, too.
We've been working on our alternative to neoprene for bag making for some time now. Our new neogreene, is an odor-free chemistry "do over" with no toxins whatsoever. (The independent lab report is posted at our website www.greensmart.biz.)
Only three weeks ago our very first items (laptop sleeves and water bottle totes) in our new material became available. GreenSmart is proud to have disassociated itself from neoprene. We hope others will, too.
I was about to purchase a neoprene wetsuit as I love lake swimming, but wondered about the safety of neoprene. Is there an alternative to neoprene for wetsuits? I am chemically sensitive so I really need to look at options that aren't toxic. Thank you.