Cyanamide

Sensitisation data (human)

Administrative data

Endpoint:

sensitisation data (humans)

Type of information:

other: Medicak data/ clincal observations

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Study period:

1981

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

test procedure in accordance with national standard methods with acceptable restrictions

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

1981

Materials and methods

Type of sensitisation studied:

skin

Study type:

case report

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline required

Principles of method if other than guideline:

For details on principles of method see below.

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Cyanamide

EC Number:

206-992-3

EC Name:

Cyanamide

Cas Number:

420-04-2

Molecular formula:

CH2N2

IUPAC Name:

cyanamide

Details on test material:

- Name of the test substance: Cyanamide (Colme: hydrogen cyanamide)

Method

Type of population:

occupational

Ethical approval:

not applicable

Subjects:

Workers in a psychiatric ward assistanting in handling numerous medicines (mostly in the form of capsules and pills and sometimes as solutions like Colme)

Route of administration:

dermal

Results and discussion

Results of examinations:

Specific tests were performed with the medicines he normally handled; he gave a +++ positive reaction to Colme at 10 and 50 %. The reactions were still visible after 30 days as a bluish-black coloration. Thirty controls were negative. Colme contains 6 g per 100 mL of cyanamide in a stabilising vehicle of sorbic acid, sedium acetate and distilled water. Patch tests with the substances showed positive reactions only to cyanamide at 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 5 % in water at 48 and 96 h. All control tests were negative. The worker henceforth avoided all contact with Colme and his dermatitis resolved completely.

Any other information on results incl. tables

No remarks

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

An allergic contact dermatitis to cyanamide (carbodiimide)

Executive summary:

A 32-year old man had been working for a year and a half in a psychiatric ward as an assistant handling numerous medicines, mostly in the form of capsules and pills and sometimes as solutions. Four months ago, the pulps of his thumb, index and middle fingers on the right hand, showed an erythemato-squamous dermatitis which was very itchy and later developed fissuring. He did not respond to topical applications and antihistamines. He noted, however, that the dermatitis sometimes improved spontaneously when he was away from work. During a normal working day he was in direct contact with about 40 medicines, such as tranquillisers, neuroleptics, vitamins, antialcoholic drugs, etc. Specific tests were performed with the medicines he normally handled; he gave a +++ positive reaction to Colme at 10 and 50 %. The reactions were still visible after 30 days as a bluish-black coloration. Thirty controls were negative. Colme contains 6 g per 100 mL of cyanamide in a stabilising vehicle of sorbic acid, sedium acetate and distilled water. Patch tests with the substances showed positive reactions only to cyanamide at 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 5 % in water at 48 and 96 h. All control tests were negative. The patient henceforth avoided all contact with Colme and his dermatitis resolved completely.