Polyvinyl chloride dermatitis not caused by phthalates

Abstract

Seven cases of contact dermatitis in children due to identification bracelets made of polyvinyl chloride plastic are reported. Patch tests with the bracelets were negative in the five cases tested. It is concluded that the reactions were irritant due to some unknown chemical in the bracelets. The most widely used plasticizers in PVC, phthalates, must have very low sensitizing properties, as only one positive patch test was found in 1532 patch tests with phthalate mix, performed as a joint study by the International Contact Dermatitis Research Group.