- Email: [email protected]
1124. Don't believe the label !
554
COSMETICS, TOILETRIES AND HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
The men involved were engaged mainly in finishing operations (sanding etc.). Dermatitis affected the face, forearms and back of the hands, and the eyelids were swollen, suggesting a direct contact sensitization to a dust or volatile agent. The condition subsided when exposure was discontinued and did not reappear when the affected men were moved to other jobs. To determine which of the three species of Khaya were responsible, patch tests were carried out with authentic dust from the wood of each species and with wood dust obtained from the factory, on seven'of the affected employees and on two others from another factory who were similarly affected. Eight patients reacted strongly to dust from K. anthotheca but not to the dust from the other two species. Further patch tests on six of these men showed that five reacted to various solvent extracts of K. anthotheca but not to fully extracted sawdust, and all reacted to acetone solutions of anthothecol, a compound isolated from this species only. Moreover, no reactions occurred in control subjects who had not previously been sensitized by the wood. These results show conclusively that K. anthotheca dust causes sensitization and was responsible for the present outbreak of dermatitis. Although anthothecol is a sensitizing agent, it appears probable that other compounds may also be involved. The almost troublefree use of this timber would appear to indicate that the present outbreak is non-typical and further evidence would be required before exposure to this dust could be regarded as a troublesome hazard. 1124. Don't believe the label ! Beare, Joyce L., ToveU, Dorothy & Murray, T. K. (1965). The total cis-methylene-interrupted fatty acids in Canadian margarines. Can. med. Ass. J. 93, 1219. We have previously referred to the benefits to be gained from margarine and other fats containing a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid (cis, cis-9,12octadecadienoic acid) (I), and to the probably erroneous suggestion that trans-acids, which are produced in small quantities during the partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils, may be deleterious (Cited in F.C.T. 1963, 1, 264). Analysis has been carried out on 20 Canadian margarines for cis-methylene-interrupted fatty acids (II). Four of these products had labels stating that they contained "polyunsaturates" (signifying fatty acids containing two or more double bonds, without isomeric distinction and thus not synonymous with II), and three that they contained corn oil. The latter claim implies that at least part of the fatty acid content in the margarine is similar to or derived from this oil, in which 50 ~ of the fatty acid content normally consists of I. However, despite these special claims, only one product (claimed to contain both corn oil and "polyunsaturates") contained an appreciable amount of II. Moreover, several of the regular margarines with no special advertisement as to fat constituents contained more II than did products with special labels. [The moral to be drawn is obvious. Need we say more ?]
COSMETICS, TOILETRIES A N D H O U S E H O L D P R O D U C T S 1125. An eye opener by zinc 2-pyridinethiol 1-oxide Snyder, F. H., Buehler, E. V. & Winek, C. L. (1965). Safety evaluation of zinc 2-pyridinethiol 1-oxide in a shampoo formulation. Toxic. appl. Pharmac. 7, 425. Zinc 2-pyridinethiol 1-oxide (I) is an effective anti-dandruff agent. Various studies to date have demonstrated a lack of irritancy to the rabbit eye and skin and the absence of any sensitization effect in guinea-pigs. In a 2-yr study in rats given graded dietary levels of 0-50 ppm, the major effect observed was muscle paralysis, which preceded death in some
COSMETICS, TOILETRIES AND HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
The men involved were engaged mainly in finishing operations (sanding etc.). Dermatitis affected the face, forearms and back of the hands, and the eyelids were swollen, suggesting a direct contact sensitization to a dust or volatile agent. The condition subsided when exposure was discontinued and did not reappear when the affected men were moved to other jobs. To determine which of the three species of Khaya were responsible, patch tests were carried out with authentic dust from the wood of each species and with wood dust obtained from the factory, on seven'of the affected employees and on two others from another factory who were similarly affected. Eight patients reacted strongly to dust from K. anthotheca but not to the dust from the other two species. Further patch tests on six of these men showed that five reacted to various solvent extracts of K. anthotheca but not to fully extracted sawdust, and all reacted to acetone solutions of anthothecol, a compound isolated from this species only. Moreover, no reactions occurred in control subjects who had not previously been sensitized by the wood. These results show conclusively that K. anthotheca dust causes sensitization and was responsible for the present outbreak of dermatitis. Although anthothecol is a sensitizing agent, it appears probable that other compounds may also be involved. The almost troublefree use of this timber would appear to indicate that the present outbreak is non-typical and further evidence would be required before exposure to this dust could be regarded as a troublesome hazard. 1124. Don't believe the label ! Beare, Joyce L., ToveU, Dorothy & Murray, T. K. (1965). The total cis-methylene-interrupted fatty acids in Canadian margarines. Can. med. Ass. J. 93, 1219. We have previously referred to the benefits to be gained from margarine and other fats containing a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid (cis, cis-9,12octadecadienoic acid) (I), and to the probably erroneous suggestion that trans-acids, which are produced in small quantities during the partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils, may be deleterious (Cited in F.C.T. 1963, 1, 264). Analysis has been carried out on 20 Canadian margarines for cis-methylene-interrupted fatty acids (II). Four of these products had labels stating that they contained "polyunsaturates" (signifying fatty acids containing two or more double bonds, without isomeric distinction and thus not synonymous with II), and three that they contained corn oil. The latter claim implies that at least part of the fatty acid content in the margarine is similar to or derived from this oil, in which 50 ~ of the fatty acid content normally consists of I. However, despite these special claims, only one product (claimed to contain both corn oil and "polyunsaturates") contained an appreciable amount of II. Moreover, several of the regular margarines with no special advertisement as to fat constituents contained more II than did products with special labels. [The moral to be drawn is obvious. Need we say more ?]
COSMETICS, TOILETRIES A N D H O U S E H O L D P R O D U C T S 1125. An eye opener by zinc 2-pyridinethiol 1-oxide Snyder, F. H., Buehler, E. V. & Winek, C. L. (1965). Safety evaluation of zinc 2-pyridinethiol 1-oxide in a shampoo formulation. Toxic. appl. Pharmac. 7, 425. Zinc 2-pyridinethiol 1-oxide (I) is an effective anti-dandruff agent. Various studies to date have demonstrated a lack of irritancy to the rabbit eye and skin and the absence of any sensitization effect in guinea-pigs. In a 2-yr study in rats given graded dietary levels of 0-50 ppm, the major effect observed was muscle paralysis, which preceded death in some