American Contact Dermatitis Society ‘Contact Allergen of the Year 2012’
The American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS) has designated acrylates as 'Contact Allergen of the Year 2012'. Since 2000, the ACDS has selected an "allergen of the year" to heighten the awareness that common everyday products can be the cause of contact dermatitis. A 'contact allergy' is a skin reaction such as a rash, hives, itching and/or a burning sensation which occurs after contact with a substance. Past “winners” include ingredients in commonly used medicinal and cosmetic products, jewelry, and household items. Contact allergies can be caused by a wide range of both synthetic chemicals and substances occurring in nature; poison ivy is a well known example. For more information, see this detailed summary:
The term acrylates as used by the ACDS broadly covers the esters of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid which are monomers used as building blocks to form a wide range of acrylic plastic products (articles). The monomers are also used as building blocks to form a wide range of acrylic based polymers used in the manufacture of paints, coatings, textiles, adhesives, detergents, personal care, and many other products. The monomers are reactive chemicals and therefore, are used almost exclusively by industry as intermediates in the production of other materials.
The accompanying article notes that “Fully polymerized acrylic plastics are inert and harmless.” At the same time, the article highlights that acrylate and methacrylate monomers represent a potential to cause dermatitis when handled incorrectly. The Methacrylates Producers Association and its member companies recognize the skin sensitizing properties of acrylic monomers and do not support their use in products for which direct skin contact with the unpolymerized monomer cannot be avoided. An example of such an unsupported use is acrylic nail extensions. Acrylic polymers have different physical and chemical properties than the constituent monomers. While some residual monomers are found in the polymers after polymerization they are typically present at extremely low levels. Acrylic monomers are typically irritants and allergens (skin sensitizing) whereas fully polymerized acrylate-based products are relatively inert and do not represent a contact allergy hazard. With the wide range of polymers manufactured and used by industry, professionals, and consumers it is not possible to generalize about the levels of residual monomers in products. Saying that, many acrylic polymers intended for medical and dental uses are manufactured to an international quality standard that ensures a high degree of polymerization and low levels of residual monomers. In contrast, some adhesive and resin products contain polymers that are intentionally not completely cured (polymerized) and contain relatively high levels of residual monomer in order to be effective in their intended use. Users of these types of products should read and follow all warnings and instructions on the labels or packaging.
