Eczema outbreak tied to Chinese furniture

MALMO, Sweden, July 17 (UPI) -- A fungicide used to prevent mold may be the cause of several thousand cases of aggravated eczema in northern Europe, Swedish researchers say.

Researchers at Malmo University Hospital said the substance, which contains the chemical dimethyl fumarate, has been linked to furniture manufactured by the Chinese company Linkwise, the newspaper Sydsvenska Dagbladet reported Wednesday.

The English-language Local newspaper said the Swedish Chemicals Agency (Kemikalieinspektionen) is in the process of tracing Swedish companies that have imported and sold the furniture.