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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Contact Dermatitis

Occupational Allergic Contact Dermatitis From Over‐Ear Headphones: Chemical Analysis Reveals Octylisothiazolinone and Other Potential Skin Sensitizers

  • Goël Fenech1,2
  • Eddy Langlois3
  • Eric Pelletier3
  • Catherine Champmartin3
  • Lynda Bensefa‐Colas1,4
  • Marie‐Noëlle Crepy1
4 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Occupational and Environmental Diseases Hotel‐Dieu Hospital, APHP. Centre – Université Paris Cité, AP‐HP Paris France
  2. 2Private Practice Paris France
  3. 3Polluants Metrology Department Institut National de Recherche et Sécurité Vandoeuvre‐les‐Nancy France
  4. 4Université Paris Cité, CRESS‐INSERM UMR‐1153, HERA Team Paris France
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Abstract

Background: Over‐ear headphones are a growing source of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Identifying well‐known and new culprit sensitizers in such products is challenging because of a lack of labelling and limited cooperation from manufacturers.

Objectives: To report potential skin sensitizers in occupationally‐used headphones from patients attending an occupational allergy clinic.

Patients and Methods: The over‐ear headphones from two octylisothiazolinone (OIT)‐allergic patients with ear ACD were chemically analysed using ultra performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS).

Results: UPLC–MS/MS confirmed the presence of OIT, but also other biocides (1,2‐benzisothiazolin‐3‐one, cetylpyridinium chloride), rubber accelerators (zinc dibenzyldithiocarbamate, 1,3 diphenyl guanidine, 1,3 di‐O‐tolyguanidine, tetramethylthiuram disulfide, tetraethylthiuram disulfide), acrylates (isobornyl acrylate [IBOA]), plasticizers (triphenyl phosphate [TPP], tricresyl phosphate), oxidizers (benzoylperoxide) and organic solvent (dimethylformamide [DMF]).

Conclusions: Over‐ear headphones may contain reproductive toxicant such as DMF, as well as several sensitizers, including TPP, OIT and IBOA. Under the EU REACH Regulation, the use of DMF is restricted, TPP is listed as a Substance of Very High Concern, whereas OIT and IBOA are not subject to specific restriction. Across both occupational and non‐occupational settings, the use of over‐ear headphones may cause contact dermatitis due to exposure to various chemical substances. Our findings may serve to explain these and future cases.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{fenech2026occupational,
  title = {{Occupational Allergic Contact Dermatitis From Over‐Ear Headphones: Chemical Analysis Reveals Octylisothiazolinone and Other Potential Skin Sensitizers}},
  author = {Goël Fenech and Eddy Langlois and Eric Pelletier and Catherine Champmartin and Lynda Bensefa‐Colas and Marie‐Noëlle Crepy},
  journal = {Contact Dermatitis},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1111/cod.70246},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/cod.70246},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Occupational Allergic Contact Dermatitis From Over‐Ear Headphones: Chemical Analysis Reveals Octylisothiazolinone and Other Potential Skin Sensitizers
AU  - Goël Fenech
AU  - Eddy Langlois
AU  - Eric Pelletier
AU  - Catherine Champmartin
AU  - Lynda Bensefa‐Colas
AU  - Marie‐Noëlle Crepy
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/10
JO  - Contact Dermatitis
DO  - 10.1111/cod.70246
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1111/cod.70246
AB  - Background: Over‐ear headphones are a growing source of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Identifying well‐known and new culprit sensitizers in such products is challenging because of a lack of labelling and limited cooperation from manufacturers.  Objectives: To report potential skin sensitizers in occupationally‐used headphones from patients attending an occupational allergy clinic.  Patients and Methods: The over‐ear headphones from two octylisothiazolinone (OIT)‐allergic patients with ear ACD were chemically analysed using ultra performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS).  Results: UPLC–MS/MS confirmed the presence of OIT, but also other biocides (1,2‐benzisothiazolin‐3‐one, cetylpyridinium chloride), rubber accelerators (zinc dibenzyldithiocarbamate, 1,3 diphenyl guanidine, 1,3 di‐O‐tolyguanidine, tetramethylthiuram disulfide, tetraethylthiuram disulfide), acrylates (isobornyl acrylate [IBOA]), plasticizers (triphenyl phosphate [TPP], tricresyl phosphate), oxidizers (benzoylperoxide) and organic solvent (dimethylformamide [DMF]).  Conclusions: Over‐ear headphones may contain reproductive toxicant such as DMF, as well as several sensitizers, including TPP, OIT and IBOA. Under the EU REACH Regulation, the use of DMF is restricted, TPP is listed as a Substance of Very High Concern, whereas OIT and IBOA are not subject to specific restriction. Across both occupational and non‐occupational settings, the use of over‐ear headphones may cause contact dermatitis due to exposure to various chemical substances. Our findings may serve to explain these and future cases.
SN  - 0105-1873
SN  - 1600-0536
ER  -