
Original Article
Difficulties in using Material S afety D ata S heets to analyse occupational exposures to contact allergens
Ulrik F. Friis 
 
Torkil Menné 
 
Mari‐Ann Flyvholm 
 
Jens P. E. Bonde 
 
Jeanne D. Johansen
First published: 19 November 2014
 
https://doi.org/10.1111/cod.12314
Citations: 13
Funding sources: Funding from the Danish Working Environment Research Fund (project no: 21‐2009‐09).
Conflict of interests: The authors declare no conflict of interests.
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Summary
Background
Information on the occurrence of contact allergens and irritants is crucial for the diagnosis of occupational contact dermatitis. Material S afety D ata S heets (MSDS ) are important sources of information concerning exposures in the workplace.
Objective
From a medical viewpoint, to evaluate the information available from MSDS s, and to ascertain whether MSDS are easy to obtain, whether they serve their purpose, and whether they provide sufficient information regarding allergens to enable correct diagnosis.
Methods
MSDS and ingredients labelling were collected from consecutive patients and reviewed. If it was suspected that the MSDS were incomplete, the manufacturer, supplier, salesperson or workplace was contacted to gather more information.
Results
Twenty‐five per cent (79/316) of patients provided material for the exposure assessment. One or more shortcomings were found in 18.6% (137/738) of the MSDS . The most frequent shortcoming was `M issing R43 /H317 while known contact allergen was present', which was observed in 63.1% (84/137). Other shortcomings were `N ames of preservatives not included in section 3 despite containing preservatives', in 48.9% (67/137), and `N othing about allergy in sections 2, 3, 11, 15 or 16 in the MSDS despite the content of allergens', in 20.4% (28/137). The information retrieved led to additional testing of 21 patients.
Conclusion
Systematic exposure assessment is time‐consuming. The main shortcomings are errors/omissions in the MSDS .
Citing Literature
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Number of times cited according to CrossRef: 13
 Diandra Budd, Irena Kudla, D. Linn Holness, Workplace Survey: Guiding Principles from Occupational Dermatology, Kanerva's Occupational Dermatology, 10.1007/978-3-319-68617-2, (1263-1272), (2020).
Crossref
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Dragan Mijakoski, Sasho Stoleski, Workplace Risk Assessment in Occupational Allergology, Allergy and Immunotoxicology in Occupational Health - The Next Step, 10.1007/978-981-15-4735-5_11, (171-182), (2020).
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Marie‐Claude Jacobs, Anne Herman, Contact dermatitis from 2‐butyl‐1,2‐benzisothiazolin‐3‐one in a cutting fluid, Contact Dermatitis, 10.1111/cod.13624, 0, 0, (2020).
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Molly C. Goodier, Lun-Yi Zang, Paul D. Siegel, Erin M. Warshaw, Isothiazolinone Content of US Consumer Adhesives, Dermatitis, 10.1097/DER.0000000000000455, 30, 2, (129-134), (2019).
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Wolfgang Uter, Jeanne D. Johansen, Prevention of Allergic Contact Dermatitis: Safe Exposure Levels of Sensitizers, Contact Dermatitis, 10.1007/978-3-319-72451-5, (1-12), (2019).
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Diandra Budd, Irena Kudla, Linn Holness, Workplace Survey: Guiding Principles from Occupational Dermatology, Kanerva's Occupational Dermatology, 10.1007/978-3-319-40221-5, (1-10), (2019).
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Heather P. Lampel, Helen B. Powell, Occupational and Hand Dermatitis: a Practical Approach, Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology, 10.1007/s12016-018-8706-z, 56, 1, (60-71), (2018).
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Molly C. Goodier, Paul D. Siegel, Lun-Yi Zang, Erin M. Warshaw, Isothiazolinone in Residential Interior Wall Paint, Dermatitis, 10.1097/DER.0000000000000410, 29, 6, (332-338), (2018).
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Jose Hernán Alfonso, Occupational Relevance of Contact Urticaria Syndrome, Contact Urticaria Syndrome, 10.1007/978-3-319-89764-6_3, (25-43), (2018).
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Jose Hernán Alfonso, Scope and Efficacy of Preventive Measures in Contact Dermatitis, Current Treatment Options in Allergy, 10.1007/s40521-018-0181-5, (2018).
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J.H. Alfonso, A. Bauer, L. Bensefa‐Colas, A. Boman, M. Bubas, L. Constandt, M.N. Crepy, M. Goncalo, J. Macan, V. Mahler, D. Mijakoski, J.M. Ramada Rodilla, T. Rustemeyer, P. Spring, S.M. John, W. Uter, M. Wilkinson, A.M. Giménez‐Arnau, Minimum standards on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of occupational and work‐related skin diseases in Europe  -  position paper of the COST Action StanDerm (TD 1206), Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 10.1111/jdv.14319, 31, S4, (31-43), (2017).
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Jeanne D. Johansen, Ulrik Fischer Friis, Jacob P. Thyssen, Basics in Diagnostic Work Up and Assessment of Clinical Relevance, Quick Guide to Contact Dermatitis, 10.1007/978-3-662-47714-4, (57-67), (2016).
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Jakob F. Schwensen, David Bregnbak, Jeanne Duus Johansen, Recent trends in epidemiology, sensitization and legal requirements of selected relevant contact allergens, Expert Review of Clinical Immunology, 10.1586/1744666X.2016.1120159, 12, 3, (289-300), (2015).

