In their article in the Journal “Analytical Methods” [1], Dr Ines Masuck, Dr Christoph Hutzler and Professor Dr Dr Andreas Luch from the German Risk Assessment Institute (BfR) in Berlin point out that allergenic fragrances are one of the main causes of contact dermatitis in children. The BfR scientists report that the revised European Directive on the safety of toys 2009/48/EC [2] therefore bans 55 fragrances, although it permits up to 100 µg of the fragrance per gram of material when this is technically unavoidable under good manufacturing practice.
The aromatic compounds that are banned or are only permitted in limited concentrations include, for example, d-limonene, linalool, benzyl alcohol, citronellol, methyl heptine carbonate, geraniol, citral, hydroxy-citronellal, cinnamal, anisyl alcohol, cinnamyl alcohol, eugenol, isomethyl ionone, isoeugenol, lilial, amyl cinnamal, farnesol, lyral, amylcinnamyl alcohol, hexyl cinnamaldehyde, benzyl benzoate, benzyl salicylate, benzyl cinnamate and coumarin. There should be no expectation that the packaging will indicate whether any of these substances have been used as a additive. It is not possible to conclude, on the other hand, they are not present because they are not permitted. Be very careful has to be the motto. Some manufacturers who have not committed themselves to compliance with a quality standard tend on occasions to try and improve their products by adding banned substances.
Quality control is important to monitor potential allergens