Justification for the evaluation of fragrance allergies (allergens of fragrance mix, allergens of fragrance mix II, Lyral®) in the context of the evaluation of the reduction in earning capacity [Begründung für die beurteilung einer duftstoffallergie (allergene des duftstoff-mix, allergene des duftstoff-mix II, Lyral®) im rahmen der MdE-bewertung]

Abstract

The following evidence-based recommendations help to evaluate the effects of an allergy to fragrences with regard to the excluded job possibilities as necessary for the evaluation of the reduction in earning capacity in occupational skin diseases according to BK No. 5101, German regulation for occupational diseases. Regarding their allergen potency, fragrances are very heterogeneous. The following allergens are particularly potent: tree moss extract, oak moss extract, farnesol, hydroxycitronellal, isoeugenol, lyral and cinnamic aldehyde. Alpha-amyl cinnamic alcohol, benzyl cinnamate, citral, citronellol, cumarin, eugenol, geraniol, lilial and cinnamic alcohol were classified as less important allergens. Finally, alpha-amyl cinnamic aldehyde, alpha-hexyl cinnamic aldehyde, anisyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, linalool, limes, methyl heptine carbonate and methyl ionone were classiefied as substances that rarely cause sensitisation. Although fragrances are ubiquitous, occupation-related allergic contact eczemas caused by fragrances are rare. There is no occupational group in which they play a major role concerning possible allergic contact eczems. The basis to evaluate the reduction in earning capacity in cases of occupation-related Type IV sensitizations against fragrances cannot be a positive reaction to the fragrance mixes alone. In cases of positive reactions to fragrance mixes, an itemization of the single components is mandatory. The prevalence of an allergy to fragrances (allergens of fragrance mix, allergens of fragrance mix II, Lyral®) is scored as mild to moderate, depending on the sensitization intensity. The sensitization against a single fragrance as well as against several fragrances normally justifies the evaluation "mild", in cases of a clinically severe sensitization against one ore more fragrances can result in the evaluation "moderate" effects of allergens. © 2008 Dustri-Verlag Dr. Karl Feistle.