Risk Assessment and Regulation of Skin Sensitizers in the European Union

PhD defence by Mathias Krogh Pedersen

Assessment Committee

Professor Anders Woetmann Andersen, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen (Chairperson)
Professor Charlotte Gotthard Mørtz, Odense Universitetshospital og Syddansk Universitet
Professor Wolfgang Uter, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen / Nürnberg

Supervisors

Clinical Professor Jeanne Duus Johansen
Clinical Associate Professor Jakob Ferløv Baselius Schwensen
Professor Martin F Wilks
MD Jose Hernán Alfonso

Department

Department of Clinical Medicine

Graduate Programme

Immunology and Infectious Diseases

Place

Building: Panum, Room: Victor Haderup Auditoriet, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2100 København Ø

Email address to gain access to the thesis: Mathias.Krogh.Pedersen@regionh.dk.
You will either receive a copy of the thesis or be informed where you can read a physical copy.
Recipients of copies of the thesis are not allowed to share or distribute it due to copyright compliance.

Short description of the thesis

Everyday exposure to chemicals can cause skin sensitization and allergic contact dermatitis, affecting quality of life and the ability to work. Although skin sensitizers are regulated in the European Union, preventing contact allergy remains challenging. This PhD thesis examines how the regulation and risk assessment of skin sensitizers can be improved by combining insights from legislation, market surveillance, clinical data, and human experimental studies. The findings highlight the importance of using real-world clinical and epidemiological evidence to identify emerging problems and support timely regulatory action. The thesis also identifies factors that influence the risk of becoming sensitized, providing a scientific basis for improving future risk assessments and ultimately strengthening the prevention of contact allergy.