Skin testing, epoxy-resin

The most frequent causes of allergic contact dermatitis in the United States include plants (poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac), metallic salts, organic dyes, plastic resins, rubber additives, and germicides.74 The most common skin patch test allergens found to be positive in patients along with potential sources of exposure are shown in Table 32.1.75 In patients with occupational contact dermatitis who were skin patch tested, the common allergens included carba mix, thiuram mix, formaldehyde, epoxy resin, and nickel.76... 

Persistent photosensitivity developed in eight men after occupational exposure to hot epoxy resin fiimes. The condition was limited to sites contacted by the resin. Small doses of ultraviolet-A light evoked abnormal reactions consisting of erythema, edema, and papules in the clinically involved skin. Positive photopatch tests were observed to epoxy resin in four subjects and to bisphenol A in all subjects. Another study showed that bisphenol A can be released during the thermal decomposition of epoxy resin in the temperature range of 250-350°C. Photosensitizing activity was explained by the formation of ftee radicals during exposure to ultraviolet-B radiation of bisphenol A vapor, to form a semiquinone derivative of bisphenol A ... 

Nakagawa M, Kawai K, Kawai K (1991) Three cases of allergic contact dermatitis from phenylglycidylether (in Japanese with English summary). Skin Res 33[Suppl io] 88-95 Nethercott JR (1981) Allergic contact dermatitis due to an epoxy acrylate. Br J Dermatol 104 697-703 Nethercott JR, Holness Dl, Adams RM, et al. (1994) Multivariate analysis of the effect of selected factors on the elicitation of patch test response to 28 common environmental contactants in North America. Am J Contact Dermatol 5 13-18 Ng PPL, Leow YH, Ng SK, Goh CL (1998) Allergic contact dermatitis to epoxy resin in a hemodialysis cannula. Am J Contact Dermat 9 55-56... 

Workers in the electronics, optical, paint and glue industries are most likely to acquire occupational allergy to epoxy resins (Richter 1974 Tosti et al. 1993). A Dutch survey among employees of several companies that specialise in epoxy resin-related work in the construction industry revealed hand eczema in 23 of 135 persons. Of these, 61% of the eczema population and 12% of the healthy skin group had positive patch-test reactions. Almost all positive patch-test reactions were due to epoxy resin This shows the tremendous relevance of epoxy resin as occupational allergen (van Putten et al. 1984). Epoxy resin coated fiberglass fibres have been reported as a cause of dermatitis in this particular field of industry (Holness and Nethercott 1989). 

The easiest way to patch test a patient s own products is using tapes and medical self-adhesive dressings. Simply cut a small piece and stick it to the skin for 24-48 h. For further information, refer to the other chapters in this book that deal with acrylates and epoxy resins. 

Johnsson M, Buhagen M, Leira HL, Solvang S (1983) Fungicide-induced contact dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 9 285-288 Jolanki R (1991) Occupational skin diseases from epoxy compounds, epoxy resin compounds, epoxy acrylates and 2,3-epoxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (thesis). Acta Derm Venereol Suppl (Stockh) 159 1-80 Jones SK, Kennedy CTC (1988) Chloracetamide as an allergen in the paint industry. Contact Dermatitis 18 304-305 Kanerva L, Jolanki R, Plosila M, Estlander T (1984) Contact dermatitis from dibutylthiourea. Report of a case with fine structural observations of epicutaneous testing with dibutylthiourea. Contact Dermatitis 10 158-162... 

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