Allergic phenol-formaldehyde resin

Phenol-formaldehyde resins can cause several types of damage to the skin. The most frequently reported effects are different types of contact dermatitis such as irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis. Depigmentation and contact urticaria have also been described. Reaction products, such as monomers and dimers, or remaining raw materials, such as phenols and aldehydes, are causative agents. 

Depigmentation can be caused by certain resins and is likely due to remaining phenols such as p-tert-butylphenol (Malten et al. 1971 Stevenson 1981). Contact urticaria has been ascribed to phenol-formaldehyde resins (Kalimo et al. 1980). Most reports about adverse effects from phenol-formaldehyde resins describe allergic contact dermatitis. Although free formaldehyde can be found in many phenol-formaldehyde resins, it is not a major sensitiser in these... 

Freeman S (1997) Shoe dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 36 247-251 Fregert S (1980) Irritant dermatitis from phenol-formaldehyde resin powder. Contact Dermatitis 6 493 Fregert S, Hjort N (1969) Results of standard patch tests with substances abandoned. Contact Dermatitis Newslett 5 85-86 Fregert S, Tegner E (1972) Allergic contact dermatitis due to phenolic resin in ready products. Contact Dermatitis Newslett 12 328... 

Vincenzi C, Guerra L, Peluso AM, Zucchelli V (1992) Allergic contact dermatitis due to phenol-formaldehyde resin in a knee-guard. Contact Dermatitis 27 54 van der Willingen AH, Stolz E, van Joost T (1987) Sensitization to phenol formaldehyde in rubber glue. Contact Dermati-tisi6 29i-292... 

Despite the similar chemical nature, there is no evidence for cross-reactivity between phenol-formaldehyde resin and PTBP-FR (Geldof et al. 1989). Some authors have attributed test reactions to PTBP-FR to free formaldehyde however, most patients are actually not allergic to formaldehyde. Schubert and Agatha (1979) performed patch-test studies with the chroma-tographically extracted ingredients of commercially available PTBP-FR. They found two linear condensates named 2-hydroxy-5-tert.-butylbenzylalcohol and 2,2 -dihydroxy-3,3-di-(2-hydroxy-5-tertiary butyl)-benzyl-5,5-ditertiary butyl-diphenylmethan to be the real allergens. 

Epi-derm has received four reports of allergic contact dermatitis from phenol-formaldehyde resins and brake pad mixes (N. Cherry, personal communication). The medical literature has very few reports of dermatitis in the brake-lining industry. Phenol-formaldehyde resin is the main potential allergen in the occupational environment. Cashew-nut shell oil is well recognised as an allergen, but the materials used in brake linings rarely appear to sensitise. (Adams 1990). The species Anacardium occidentale produces cashew nuts. It is in the same family as poison ivy, oak and sumac found in North America and elsewhere. Cross-... 

The causes of allergic contact dermatitis (31 cases) were rubber chemicals (6 cases), nickel (5 cases), phenol formaldehyde resin (3 cases), epoxy resin (3 cases), formaldehyde (2 cases), medications (2 cases), and chromium, dibutylhiourea (Kanerva et al. 1998), 4,4 -diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), glutaralde-hyde, hydroxyl ammonium chloride (Estlander et al. i997 )> methacrylates, 2V-methyl-N-nitroso-p-toluene-sulfonamide (Estlander et al. 1996a) and potassium persulfate (1 case each), and unspecified agents (2 cases). 

Sailors are at risk of acute chemical burns from direct contact with strong acids and alkalis. Materials used in the construction, repair, and painting of the ships can cause allergic contact dermatitis. The main allergens are oil, fuels, paints, solvents, lacquers, glues, and phenol-formaldehyde resins (Shaposhnikov 1973). 

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