A recent study from Danmarks Miljøundersøgelser (National Environmental Research Institute) shows that 1 out of 302 (0.3 %) shoes examined contained the potent allergy provoking fungicide dimethyl fumarate.

Dimethyl fumarate can cause severe allergic eczema. Since May 2009, it has been prohibited to sell products within the EU containing dimethyl fumarate. This legislation was introduced after reports of a large number of allergic reactions provoked by exposure to dimethyl fumarate initially in furniture and later in shoes.

Most cases of shoe allergy have been reported from southern Europe.

To date, only relatively few cases have been reported in Denmark, which may be due partly to different habits regarding footwear and partly to cases being overlooked because not all dermatologists test for this type of allergy.

The new study shows that consumers may still be at risk from dimethyl fumarate exposure and that they must be aware of whether their footwear provokes an allergic reaction.

Read the report from Danmarks Miljøundersøgelser (National Environmental Research Institute)