an additive, helps to scale-up the gas hydrates' formation process. Safety CAPB has been claimed to cause allergic reactions in some users, but a controlled pilot study has found that these cases may represent irritant reactions rather than true allergic reactions. Furthermore, results of human studies have shown that CAPB has a low sensitizing potential if impurities with amidoamine (AA) and dimethylaminopropylamine (DMAPA) are low and tightly controlled. Other studies have concluded that most apparent allergic reactions to CAPB are more likely due to amidoamine. Cocamidopropyl betaine was voted 2004 Allergen of the Year by the American Contact Dermatitis Society. See also Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine References Zwitterionic surfactants Antiseptics Cosmetics chemicals Antistatic agents Quaternary ammonium compounds Fatty acid amides