Swedish researchers find isothiocyanates created in rubber products

ERJ staff report (DS)

Gothenburg, Sweden -- Common rubber products can form isothiocyanates in contact with skin leading to contact allergies. This is the conclusion of research carried out at the University of Gothenburg. Isothiocyanates are a group of reactive substances that are potent contact allergens.

"Substances that appear at first glance to be harmless can cause allergic reactions since skin enzymes may help to form new, allergenic substances from them, giving rise to dermatitis and other skin problems. This is the case for isothiocyanates, which are formed on the skin following repeated contact with rubber", says Kristin Samuelsson of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Gothenburg.

Kristin Samuelsson has used fluorescent isothiocyanates to study how allergenic substances are absorbed by the skin and lymph nodes, after being applied to the skin. The results show that the reactive isothiocyanates are mainly restricted to the outermost layer of skin (known as the "stratum corneum"), which consists of dead cells. Even so, the isothiocyanates that were tested were potent allergens.

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Press release from University of Gothenburg