FDA has notified consumers and healthcare professionals to discontinue use of three Zicam Nasal Gel/Nasal Swab products sold over-the-counter.  The products are associated with a loss of sense of smell that may be long-lasting or permanent.  The FDA has received more than 130 reports of loss of sense of smell associated with the use of these products.

Zicam products included are: Cold Remedy Nasal Gel, Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs and Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids size.

Essentially, the article discusses the different trigger mechanisms and the need for regulations and training on using nail guns.

There are 2 different trigger mechanisms on the guns: the contact trip trigger, which allows the gun to be fired anytime the nose and trigger are both pressed; and the sequential trigger, which requires the nose piece to be pushed down before the trigger is pulled.  Studies over three years show the sequential trigger is much safer than the contact trigger.

The argument is for requirement of the sequential trigger to be used, or minimum training regulations, which currently don’t exist.

I realize this has only been tested on mice, and not humans, but I think this raises a red flag on something to be watched.  This is an authoritative article, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. The lotion brands are named in the article (and at least one of them I know to be commonly recommended by dermatologists).

Read the article here: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68162.html