[Preventive measures against health damage due to chemicals in household products].

Chemicals in household products have been paid much attention as the main cause of health damage in consumers, such as allergic contact dermatitis. Preventive measures against health damage due to chemicals in fabrics, plastics and rubber products for household use, are reviewed, focusing on 1) the incidence of health damage due to household products, 2) causative product-chemical investigation, and 3) case studies on skin damage.

Needle fibers of an azo-dye mixture induce polyploidy in a Chinese hamster cell line CHL.

In a routine Safety evaluation of chemicals included in household products, we found a mixture of azo dyes (CMBA, main component: N-[5-[(2-cyanoethyl)ethylamino]-4-methoxy-2-[(5-nitro-2,1-benzisothiazol-3-yl)azo]phenyl] acetamide) that precipitated in the culture medium in a characteristic fiber form (around 2 - 33 microm in length) similar to that of asbestos. We compared CMBA with an asbestos, chrysotile B, in a cytotoxicity, chromosome aberration (CA), and micronucleus (MN) test in a Chinese hamster lung cell line (CHL). In the cytotoxicity test, the 50% growth inhibition concentration was 11.

[Research on the marketing status of antimicrobial products and the use of antimicrobial agents indicated on product labels from 1991 through 2005].

To clarify the marketing status of antimicrobial products, descriptions on the labels of commercially available antimicrobial products were investigated from 1991 through 2005, and the results were analyzed using a database system on antimicrobial deodorant agents. A classification table of household antimicrobial products was prepared and revised, based on which target products were reviewed for any changes in the product type. The number of antimicrobial products markedly increased over 3 years starting from 1996, among which there were many products apparently not requiring antimicrobial processing.

[Preventive measures against health damage due to chemicals in household products].

Chemicals in household products have been paid much attention as main cause of health damage on consumers, such as allergic contact dermatitis. Preventive measures against health damage due to chemicals in fabric, plastic and rubber products for household uses, are reviewed, focusing on (1) regulation and voluntary control by manufacturers, (2) incidence of health damage from household products, (3) causative product-chemical investigation, (4) case studies on skin damage and respiratory tract damage.