Food Allergy
Allergens are substance that cause the immunity system to trigger and
fight against it. In normal cases, and in the majority this happens when
foreign bodies such as bacteria, enter our body. However, innocent and
harmless bodies (proteins) such as pollen, peanuts, milk, penicillin
etc. may not be recognised by out immune system and keep thinking of
them being a harmful foreign body. On the other hand, wasps and other
insects produce allergens as a self defence for themselves.
Below are three lists consisting of :
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Natural Common Allergens
Chemical Allergens
E-Numbers and Food Additives
Natural Common Allergens
For a printable version of the following list click here.
Airborne Grass Pollen
Tree Pollen
Mould Spores
Animal Dander Foods Dairy Products
Eggs
Strawberries
Fish and Shellfish
Cereals
Allergenic substances and products
Yeasts
Sugars
Mannitol
Sorbitol
Polysorbates
Rice Maltodextrins
Citrus
Bioflavonoids Lactose
Artificial Presevatives
Artificial Colours
Citrus Pectin
Talc
Soy Lecithin
Peanuts
Corn Flour
Gluten
Soy Flour
Rice Flour
Alfalfa
Potato Starch
Acacia Gum
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Chemical Allergens and Others
For a printable version of the following list click here.
1. Nickel sulphate
Nickel is one of the most common metals in our environment, and is the
most common contact sensitises world-wide. About 10% of all women are
sensitive to nickel sulphate and react to metal objects in direct
contact with the skin.
2. Wool alcohols
Wool fat and wool alcohols are extensively used in cosmetic products and
topical medicaments such as ointments, creams, lotions and soaps. Wool
alcohol is the fraction of lanolin in which the allergen(s) are found.
The structure of the allergen is unknown. Although lanolin is a weak
sensitizer, allergy is not uncommon because of its frequent use on
inflamed skin or as an emollient.
3. Neomycin sulphate
Neomycin sulphate is an antibiotic in the aminoglycoside group that is
used topically in ointments, creams, ear drops and nose drops. Neomycin
sulphate consists of three different chemical substances, all of which
are sensitizers. The neomycin sulphate patch test reaction often
develops slowly and should be evaluated 4-5 days after application if
possible.
4. Potassium dichromate
Soluble chromium salts may cause contact dermatitis and are found in wet
cement, chrome tanned leather, welding fumes, cutting oils and anti rust
paints. Metallic chromium has an oxidized surface and no soluble
chromium is released. The metal is thus non-allergenic.
5. Caine mix
Caine mix contains three anaesthetics for topical use - benzocaine,
dibucaine hydrochloride and tetracaine hydrochloride. Caine mix
anaesthetics are used in medicaments that reduce pain, itching and
stinging. They are also found in haemorrhoidal preparations and cough
syrups. Caines are moderate sensitizers, but are often used on inflamed
skin, and therefore allergic sensitization is not uncommon.
6. Fragrance mix
Fragrance mix contains eight common fragrances, also known to be
sensitizers - cinnamic alcohol, cinnamic aldehyde, eugenol, alpha-amylcinnamic
aldehyde, isoeugenol, geraniol, hydroxycitronellal and oak moss. The
perfumes of the fragrance mix occur in most toiletries, soaps, after
shave lotions, shampoos, scented household products and in many
industrial products such as cutting fluids.
7. Colophony
Colophony is a resin obtained from different conifer species. It is
found in adhesive, tape, sticker sealant, lacquers, varnishes,
cosmetics, soldering materials, and many industrial products. Paper
contains small amounts of colophony. The allergens of colophony are not
altogether known, but are assumed to be present among the resin acids,
which are main ingredients of colophony or among their oxidation
products. A mixture of colophonies of different origin is an excellent
clinical indicator of colophony allergy.
8. Epoxy resin
Epoxy resin is the diglycidylether of bisphenol-A and is found in
strong, two-part plastic adhesives. Only the resin - the uncured epoxy -
is sensitizing, and the 340 monomer the essential sensitizer.
9. Quinoline mix
Quinoline mix contains clioquinol and chloroquinadol, two antimicrobials
used in medicated creams and ointments for wound infections and infected
eczemas. Quinolines are not uncommon sensitizers in countries where they
are used.
10. Balsam of Pew
Balsam of Peru is a wood extract from the South American tree Myroxylon
pedere. In the past, it was commonly incorporated as fragrance in
cosmetics, medical creams and ointments and used as flavouring in teas,
tobaccos, cough syrups, colas, ice creams, baked goods and many other
foods. It is decreasingly used, but gives a good indication of fragrance
sensitivity, as it includes several different fragrances that sensitize,
such as benzyl cinnamate, benzylbenzoate, cinnamic aldehyde and
isoeugenol.
11. Ethylenediamine dihydrochloride
Ethylenediarnine is an emulsifier and stabilizer found in both medicated
and non-medicated topical preparations such as creams and nose drops. It
is used industrially as a solvent, curing and anticorrosive agent.
12. Cobalt chloride
Metallic cobalt and cobalt salts are strong sensitizers, and are found
in many metal plated objects including buckles, buttons and zips, but
also in artists' paints, wet cement and hard metal. Cobalt is often
found together with nickel, and allergy occurs to both these metals in
25% of nickel sensitivity. This is not regarded as true cross
sensitivity.
13. p-tert-butylphenol formaldehyde resin
p-tert-butylphenol formaldehyde resin is a condensation product of
formaldehyde and p-tert-butylphenol. It is a source material for many
waterproof glues and finishes, and is frequently used in the
construction and shoe industries. It is found in leather goods,
furniture, rockwool, hard board, high quality paper and glossy fabrics.
Phenolformaldehyde resins are a group of more or less condensed
substances. Many of them sensitize. P-tert-butylphenol formaldehyde
resin indicates most of this sensitivity.
14. Paraben mix
The mixture contains five different parabens; methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-,
butyl- and benzyl-parahydroxybenzoate. Parabens are the most used
topical preservatives worldwide. Parabens are found in several medical
creams, lotions, pastes, and in several cosmetics and skin care
products. Parabens are used as food preservatives and industrially in
oils, fats and glues. Sensitivity to parabens is not uncommon although
rare in relation to their widespread usage. Parabens are lipophilic and
have low irritant and sensitizing potential.
15. Carba mix
Three rubber chemicals, 1 .3-diphenylguanidine, zinc
diethyldithiocarbamate and zinc dibutyldithiocarbamate are contained in
this mixture. These chemicals are strong antimicrobials and
antioxidants, and are used to stabilize rubber. They are found in almost
all rubber products including shoes, tool handles, electric cords, etc.
They are also found in adhesives for leather, some vinyl products and
are ingredients of pesticides. Dithiocarbamates transform to thiurams on
exposure to oxygen. Therefore, carbamate and thiuram allergic reactions
often occur in parallel.
16. Black rubber mix
N.isopropyl-N1-phenyl paraphenylenediamine9 Ncyclohexyl-N1-phenyl
paraphenylenediamine and N,N1-diphenyl paraphenylene diamine are
antioxidants and polymerization inhibitors found in almost all black
rubber products including tyres, handles, rubber washers, hoses and
gloves. Hair dye products are related and may occasionally cross react.
The black rubber chemicals are strong sensitizers.
17. Isothiazolinones (Kathon CG)
A mixture of two allergens; Schloro-2-methylA-isothiazolin-3-one and
2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3~ne, the chloromethyl derivative being the more
sensitizing. Kathon CG is a widespread preservative in cosmetics and
commercial household products such as shampoos, creams, lotions,
cleaners and washing materials. It is also a widely used industrial
preservative for cutting fluids.
18. Quaternium-15
Quaternium-1 5, 1 (3~hloroallyl)-3,5,7.triaza-1 -azonium-adamantane
chloride is a preservative found in cosmetics such as lotions, creams,
shampoos and soaps. It is also found in commercial products such as
polishes, cleaners, and in industrial products such as cutting fluids
and paints. Quaternium-15 is a formaldehyde releaser. Individuals
reacting to this compound may either be allergic to formaldehyde or have
a specific sensitivity. Quaternium-15 has low potential to irritate and
sensitizers.
19. Mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT)
Mercaplobenzothiazole is a vulcanization accelerator used in rubber
products such as shoes, gloves, rubber bands, gaskets, electric cords.
It is also found in adhesives and as a fungicide, bactericide and
anticorrosive agent in cutting oils and greases. MBT is a moderately
strong sensitizer and a moderately irritant chemical.
20. p-Phenylenediamine (PPD)
PPD is a blue-black aniline dye. Together with (elated compounds it is
found in many dyed textiles, leather, and fur. Permanent and
semi-permanent hair dyes may contain PPD or related chemicals, which to
some extent cross react. It may also be found in dark cosmetics, black
rubber, photographic developers and printing inks. PPD is readily
oxidized in contact with atmospheric oxygen, but this reduces the
allergenic potency only marginally. It is an open question whether the
dye itself or an oxidation product is the essential allergen.
21. Formaldehyde (N-hydrnxymethyl succinimide)
Formaldehyde is the initial component in the manufacture of several
plastics and synthetic resins. Residual amounts of formaldehyde are
released from such products. Formaldehyde releasing disinfectants and
preservatives are widely used in cosmetics, cleaning products and many
industrial products. Formaldehyde is found in glues, textiles and some
types of paper. There is a significant exposure to formaldehyde in the
construction industry from paints, hardboard, rockwool, plastics and
waterproof glues.
22. Mercapto mix
Morpholinyl mercaptobenzothiazol. N-Cyclohexyl benzothiazyl sulphonamide
and dibenzothiazyl disulphide are the allergens included. Uke
mercaptobenzothiazol these mercaptochemicals are vulcanisation
accelerators used in rubber products.
23. Thiomersal (thimerosal, merthiolate)
Thiomersal is a preservative used in contact lens fluids and in
particular cosmetics, such as eye shadows. It may also be used as a
preservative for eye and nose drops, and for some injectable medicines,
especially vaccines and gammaglobulin. Thiomersal contains mercury, but
cross reacts only marginally with metallic mercury and the relevance of
positive reactions is often hard to establish.
24. Thiuram mix
The thiuram mix includes three disulphides and one monosulphide. They
are strong antimicrobials and antioxidants. They are found in almost all
rubber products, including shoes, gloves, condoms, elastic bands, tool
handles, gaskets and electric cables. They are also found in adhesives
for leather and vinyl products and are ingredients of pesticides, insect
repellents, antiscabies medication, fungicides, wood preservatives,
paint additives, lubricating oils and the drug disulfiram (Antabuse).
There is an interaction between the disulphides of the mix which form an
equilibrium of six disulphides. The cross-reaction pattern of these
disulphides has not yet been evaluated.
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