Researchers found adults with high of dichlorophenol, a chemical by-product of chlorine in their urine, were upto 80% more likely to have a food allergy. Britain has seen a rise in food allergies in recent years, with upto ten million adults claiming to be unable to eat a variety of foods from milk to mustard, although scientists believe the figure may be exaggerated by the ‘worried well’.

Studies also estimate that four percent of children have a food allergy. A rising number are diagnosed with gut allergies linked to common foods such as cow’s milks, wheat, soya, eggs, celery, kiwi fruit and other fruit and vegetables.

Food allergy can take the form of a sudden life threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis, as well as eczema or an itchy rash. Much of water supply in Britain is chlorinated to kill germs, although experts say it is at much lower levels than in the US. They point out that, for British households atleast, certain common household products are more likely to be sources of dichlorophenol than tap water.

Professor Jeni Colbourne, the chief Inspector of drinking water, said strict regulations in the UK meant dichlorophenol is unlikely to be found in household tap’s. She said its likeliest sources for British consumers were household product impregnated with triclosan, commonly used in lipstick, face washes, toothpaste and kitchen utensils. An anti-bacterial,it can break down to form dichlorophenol.

In a study of 2,211 American adults with the chemical in their urine 411, were found to have a food allergy while 1,016 had an environmental allergy. The research, published in journal of the American college of allergy, Asthma and Immunology, concluded “excessive use of dichlorophenols may contribute to the increasing incidence of food allergies in westernized societies”. “This chemical is commonly found in pesticides and consumer insect and weed control product as well as tap water.”

Lead author Dr.Elina Jerschow added: ‘previous studies have shown that both food allergies and environmental pollution are increasing in US.’ ‘Our study suggests these two trends might be linked, and that increased use of pesticides and other chemicals is associated with a higher prevalence of food allergies.’

Professor Colbourne insisted: Currently in the UK consumer, exposure to dichlorophenol via tap water is considered to be minimal. ‘In the US generally chlorination is known to be less well controlled and relatively high doses of chlorine are used, so it would be reasonable to consider the risk of exposure to be generally higher.‘In UK exposure is more likely to come from non tap water sources’.

Dheeraj Dubey

(S.Y.D.Pharm.)

Tags: MET Institute of Pharmacy