Irritant 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. 

Phenol-formaldehyde resins can cause irritant contact dermatitis (Fregert 1980) and chemical burns (Fisher 1973). Many phenols are known to be irritating and can cause chemical burns and the level of remaining or free phenol can vary in the resins. The reaction products, methylol phenols, generally seem to be less irritating to the skin than the phenols. Low or high pH of the resin can contribute to irritant contact dermatitis. The pH of a resin mainly depends on remaining or added catalyst which can be an acid or a base. 

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... 

The causes of irritant contact dermatitis (20 cases) were wet work (3 cases), soaps and detergents (3 cases), physical and mechanical agents (3 cases), barley flour, grains or feed (2 cases), and clay, inorganic acids and alkalis, molds, phenol formaldehyde resin and salicylic acid (1 case each), unspecified chemical agent (3 cases), and another unspecified agent (1 case). 

EICEIO, a gas with an irritating smell. It is made industrially by the oxidation of methyl alcohol, and is used in the manufacture of phenol-formaldehyde and urea-formaldehyde resins and plastics. 

Phenol and urea formaldehyde resins are used in the casting industry to produce cores and moulds and although formaldehydes have not been proven to cause cancer in humans, they can, when heated, irritate eyes, skin and respiratory tract. 

Hydroxymethyl dioxoazabicyclooctane CAS 6542-37-6 EINECS/ELINCS 229-457-6 Synonyms 7-Hydroxymethyl-1,5-dioxo-3-aza-bicyclooctane 1H,3H,5H-Oxazolo [3,4-c] oxazole-7a(7H)-methanol Oxazolo [3,4-c] oxazol-7a-yl-methanol Ciassification Heterocyclic organic compd. Empihcai CeHnNOs Properties M.w. 145.16 Toxicoiogy Irritant TSCA listed Uses Antimicrobial in cosmetics crosslinking agent for resorcinol phenol-formaldehyde or protein-based resin systems raw material for synthesis for paints, coatings, adhesives, and inks... 

Phenolic and amino resins Usually as dry prepreg Free Phenol, also released on cure. Formaldehyde is strong eye, skin and respiratory irritant... 

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