Test Your Methyldibromoglutaronitrile (MDBGN) Savvy - Which of these items have been reported to contain MDBGN?

Methyldibromoglutaronitrile, or MDBGN, is a preservative found in both household and industrial products. As a biocide, it is effective in warding off bacteria, fungi, and yeast; however, its allergenicity has led to restricted use in cosmetic and personal hygiene products. This quiz is presented to discuss household and industrial uses that may be contributors to MDBGN-mediated contact dermatitis.

Interestingly, MDBGN was made to substitute the preservative methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone, which was responsible for an epidemic of contact allergy to cosmetics. Yet MDBGN itself was found to elicit rapid sensitization, in such high prevalence rates that it sparked its own epidemic of contact allergy, too.

Other names for MDBGN:

• 2-Bromo-2-(bromomethyl) glutaronitrile
• 2-bromo-2-(bromomethyl) pentanedinitrile
• 1,2-Dibromo-2,4-dicyanobutane
• Euxyl K 400
• Tektamer 38

Let’s try to identify products that have been reported to contain MDBGN.