Can chemical burns and allergic contact dermatitis from higher concentrations of methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone be prevented?
GROUND: Skin exposure to biocides containing high concentrations of methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) and methylisothiazolinone (MI) may cause both severe chemical burns and induce sensitization. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate whether sodium bisulfite, as a model substance, could be used for treatment of skin accidentally exposed to high concentrations of MCI/MI to prevent chemical burns and elicitation of allergic contact dermatitis. METHODS: The reaction between Kathon WT and sodium bisulfite was studied with chemical methods. MCI/MI-hypersensitive patients and controls were patch tested with serial dilutions of Kathon CG and with reaction mixtures being about 30 seconds, 30 minutes, and 48 hours old. RESULTS: The concentrations of MCI/MI rapidly decreased after addition of sodium bisulfite. The degradation products did not elicit any irritant test reactions neither in test patients nor in controls. Five out of seven Kathon CG-hypersensitive patients reacted to a
