Contact allergy to the active ingredients of Bioban P 1487

Bioban P 1487, consisting of the 2 active ingredients 4-(2-nitrobutyl)-morpholine (M) and 4,4'-(2-ethyl-2-nitro-1,3-propanediyl)-bis morpholine (DM), is a preservative recommended for metal working fluids. The aims of this study were to assess the frequency of contact allergy to Bioban P 1487, when added to a standard patch test series, as well as to test the individual active ingredients in patients sensitized to Bioban P 1487. Of the patients consecutively tested, 1.5% reacted positively to Bioban P 1487. Positive test reactions were noted in only 4 of 12 Bioban P 1487-sensitized patients tested with the individual active ingredients. Both active ingredients are contact sensitizers, but in most patients with this contact allergy it remains difficult to identify the sensitizing hapten.