Contact dermatitis due to a new fungicide used in the tulip bulb industry

Use of guinea pig data to obtain starting points for skin sensitisation risk assessment - A commentary

The increasing drive to understand the likelihood of skin sensitisation from plant protection products (PPPs) in workers and the general public has resulted in recent initiatives to establish a quantitative risk assessment (QRA) methodology applicable to these products and their exposure scenarios. The effective evaluation of skin sensitising substances requires not only the identification of that toxicological hazard, but also determination of relative sensitising potency. Typically, this has been achieved by interpretation of local lymph node assay (LLNA) dose response data, delivering what is known as the EC3 value. This permitted regulatory division of skin sensitisers into defined potency sub-categories, but more importantly enabled derivation of a no expected sensitisation induction level (NESIL) as the point of departure for QRA. However, for many existing substances there is no LLNA data, only older guinea pig results exist. To avoid additional (in vivo) testing, an approach has been outlined to employ guinea pig data and existing regulatory guidelines on the determination of potency sub-categorisation to provide a guinea pig based NESIL. The approach adopts a conservative extrapolation from LLNA NESIL benchmarks to deliver points of departure as the basis for the type of QRA process already in successful use by other industries.

Assessing the risk of induction of skin sensitization to plant protection products: A quantitative approach

Exposure to skin sensitizers is common and regulated in many industry sectors. For cosmetics, a risk-based approach has been implemented, focused on preventing the induction of sensitization. First, a No Expected Sensitization Induction Level (NESIL) is derived, then modified by Sensitization Assessment Factors (SAFs) to derive an Acceptable Exposure Level (AEL). The AEL is used in risk assessment, being compared with an estimated exposure dose, specific to the exposure scenario. Since in Europe there is increased concern regarding exposure towards potentially sensitizing pesticides via spray drift, we explore how existing practice can be modified to allow Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) of pesticides for bystanders and residents. NESIL derivation by the Local Lymph Node Assay (LLNA), the globally required in vivo assay for this endpoint, is reviewed alongside consideration of appropriate SAFs. Using a case study, the principle that the NESIL in μg/cm² can be derived by multiplying LLNA EC3% figure by a factor of 250 is adopted. The NESIL is then reduced by an overall SAF of 25 to establish an exposure level below which there is minimal bystander and resident risk. Whilst this paper focuses on European risk assessment and management, the approach is generic and universally applicable.

Contact dermatitis caused by tulips: identification of contact sensitizers in tulip workers of Kashmir Valley in North India

BACKGROUND

Tulip, belonging to the genus Tulipa and family Liliaceae, is a spring-blooming perennial that grows from bulbs. Owing to manual handling, contact dermatitis can occur in professionals at any stage of the growth cycle of the tulip plant.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the clinical pattern of contact dermatitis resulting from tulip plant cultivation, and to assess contact allergy in workers coming into contact with this plant.

METHODS

One hundred and sixty-four tulip workers were screened, and 48 patients with suspected contact dermatitis were patch tested with 39 allergens, including haptens from the Indian baseline series, a plant series, and extracts from different parts of the tulip plant.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine positive patch test reactions were observed in 21 patients. Seventeen patients showed positive reactions to either α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone or to tulip plant extract. Clinical relevance was observed for 13 of 17 positive patch test reactions.

CONCLUSIONS

Contact dermatitis is an important health hazard in workers dealing with tulip bulbs. Further studies to identify and isolate other possible tulip allergens, and to quantify the amounts of allergens in different parts of the tulip plant, are recommended.

Toxicity effects of fungicide residues on the wine-producing process

We report the detection of several fungicide residues (Dichlofluanid, Benomyl, Iprodione, Procymidone and Vinclozolin) in red and white bottled wines from two Portuguese wine-producing zones. Studies were done in order to evaluate the active compound transfer percentage from grapes to the final product along fermentation process. We also investigated their effects in Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces yeasts as well as their influence on the physical, chemical and organoleptic wine properties. All the tested fungicides had a negative effect on in vitro yeast growth, with Dichlofluanid and Benomyl being the most toxic. Zygosaccharomyces rouxii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were the most resistant yeasts while Rhodotorula glutinis was the most susceptible. Microvinification experiments carried out in the presence of fungicides produced wine samples with unaltered physical, chemical and organoleptic properties, though Benomyl, a slight delay in the initiation of fermentation process was observed.

The nature and distribution of daffodil pickers' rash

The rash associated with picking daffodils has long been recognized, but the distribution and differing types of lesions have not been explained. This study, from observations in the field, attempts to clarify the position. The method of picking and then gathering the flowers explains the development of the rash at the points of contact of plant sap with skin. Crystals of calcium oxalate in the sap, in conjunction with alkaloids, act as an irritant, and also cause the characteristic sores.