Skin sensitization potential of allyl methacrylate in guinea pigs

The skin sensitization potential of allyl methacrylate (AMA) was studied in Hartley albino guinea pigs. Two groups of guinea pigs (10 per compound) were subjected to repeated insult patch tests either with AMA or with dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). All guinea pigs treated with DNCB (positive control) were sensitized. None of the guinea pigs treated with AMA exhibited any evidence of sensitization and no reactions attributable to AMA were elicited as a result of exposure during the insult phase of the patch test. Based on these results, it is concluded that allyl methacrylate is not likely to be a sensitizer and exposure to this material in industrial handling situations will not present an appreciable risk of human skin sensitization,