Sensitizers sulfites

Sulfites and related compounds have been the subject of much controversy. It has been shown that these chemicals may cause serious allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. In the United States, sulfite-containing foods must be labeled as such, and sulfites ate prohibited in areas such as salad bats where labeling is inappropriate. 

Stability. E is sensitive to ait, light, heat, and alkalies. Metals, notably copper, iron, and 2inc, destroy its activity. In solution with sulfite or bisulfite, it slowly forms an inactive sulfonate (17). The red color that forms when neutral or alkaline solutions are exposed to air is caused by adrenochrome. 

Adlington and Thompson (Al) measured the gas-liquid interfacial area in beds of particles of from 0.3- to 3-mm diameter by oxygen absorption in a sodium sulfite solution. They found that the interfacial area decreased with decreasing bed porosity, and was less sensitive to changes in particle size. 

The ingestion of sulfites can also worsen asthma. These agents are often found in processed potatoes, shrimp, dried foods, beer, and wines. Patients sensitive to sulfites should be warned not to ingest these products, as they have been known to cause severe exacerbations, particularly in severe asthmatics. 

Takemoto BK, Noble RD, Harrington HM. 1986. Differential sensitivity of duckweeds (Lemnaceae) to sulfite II. Thiol production and hydrogen sulphide emission as factors influencing sulphite phytotoxicity under low and high irradiance. New Phytologist 103 541-548. 

Sulfite, sulfur dioxide Ce(IV)-3-(cyclohexylamino)propanesulfonic acid (sensitizer), air 0.02 Xg/mL 2... 

Adverse reactions to sulfites appear to occur mainly among a small percentage of asthmatics, but it is possible for individuals without asthma to be sulfite sensitive. It is typically more of a problem in individuals with severe asthma who are also taking corticosteroid drugs to control their disease. Among these individuals, the prevalence of sulfite sensitivity is about 8%, while it is about 1% in asthmatics who are not dependent on steroids (Taylor and Bush, 1986). 

The mechanism of sulfite-induced asthma is not well-understood. Reactions to sulfited foods probably depend on the sulfite residue level in the food, the sensitivity threshold of the individual, the type of food consumed, and whether sulfite exists in the free (more toxic) form or combined (less toxic) form. The toxicology of sulfites has been reviewed by Madhavi and Salunkhe (1995). Sulfite sensitivity is not a true allergic reaction (Taylor et al., 1988). The FDA initially estimated that more than 1 million Americans are sensitive to sulfites, but more recent estimates lowered the number of asthmatics who may be sulfite sensitive to 80,000-100,000 (Bush et al., 1986). 

Taliaferro p j (1995), Monosodium glutamate and the Chinese restaurant syndrome a review of food additive safety J Environ Health, 57(10), 8-12. taylor s l and bush r K (1986), Sulfites as food ingredients, a Scientific Status Summary by the Institute of Food Technologists Expert Panel on Food Safety Nutrition , Food Technol, 40(6), 47-52. taylor s L and hefle s l (2001), Food allergies and other sensitivities, a Scientific Status Summary by the Institute of Food Technologists Expert Panel on Food Safety Nutrition , Food Technol, 55(9), 68-83. 

TAYLOR S L, BUSH R K, SELNER J C, NORDLEE J A, WIENER M B, HOLDEN K, KOEPKE J w and busse w w (1988), Sensitivity to sulfited foods among sulfite-sensitive subjects with asthma , J Allergy Clin Immunol, 81(6), 1159-67. 

NMR spectral differentiation of enantiomers as solutes in chiral solvents has been achieved with sulfoxides, sulfinates, thiosulfinates, sulfinamides, and sulfites (86,108,242). The usefulness and high sensitivity of this method is confirmed by its successful application... 

Toxicology. Sodium metabisulfite may cause bronchospasm, oculonasal symptoms, and urticaria in sulfite-sensitive individuals irritation of mucous membranes may occur from inhalation of the dust. 

Tartrazine/suifite sensitivity Some of these products contain tartrazine or sulfites, which may cause allergic-type reactions. 

Sulfite sensitivity Some of these products contain sulfites that may cause allergic-type reactions including anaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes. Sulfite sensitivity is seen more frequently in asthmatic or atopic nonasthmatic persons. 

The action of an active intermediate oxidation product would explain another feature of the reaction. The reduction of silver ions by hydrazine is extremely sensitive to the presence of small amounts of copper. For example, a solution containing a mixture of silver nitrate, sodium sulfite and hydrazine which normally showed no sign of reduced silver for several minutes underwent almost immediate reaction when merely stirred with a clean copper rod. In the presence of gum arabic as stabilizer, streamers of colloidal silver passed out from the copper surface. Similarly, the addition of small amounts of cupric sulfate to a hydrazine solution eliminated the induction period of the reaction with silver chloride. 

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