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Med. Pr. 2003;54(2)

CONTACT ALLERGY TO EPOXY RESINS PLASTICS BASED ON MATERIALS COLLECTED BY THE NOFER INSTITUTE OF OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE (p. 145-148)

ALERGIA KONTAKTOWA NA TWORZYWA EPOKSYDOWE, NA PODSTAWIE MATERIAŁU INSTYTUTU MEDYCYNY PRACY W ŁODZI (ss. 145-148)

Marta Kieć-świerczyńska, Beata Kręcisz Z Przychodni Chorób Zawodowych Instytutu Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera w Łodzi

Abstract

Of the 5604 patients examined in 1984ś2001 for suspected occupational dermatitis, 160 persons (2.8%) showed allergy to epoxy resins plastics. Allergy was more frequent in men (4.9%) than in women (1.2%); in 154 persons, allergy was of occupational etiology (in a group of 160 patients with allergy to epoxy resins,the following proportions were observed:bricklayers, platelayers - 17.5%; fitters, turners,machinist millers - 13.8%; plastics molders - 13.1%; laminators - 11.3%; electrical equipment assemblers - 10.6%; painters - 10.0%).
Having compared the frequency of allergy to components of epoxy resins in the years 1984-1993 and 1994-2001, it was found that allergy to resin, reactive diluents and plasticizers was on increase, whereas allergy to amines and acid anhydrides hardeners was on decrease.
In a group of 13 chemical compounds entering into the composition of epoxy resins, epoxy resin contributed to the largest number of positive patch tests (77.5% of epoxy-allergic persons). This was followed by triethylenetetramine (23.1%), ethylenediamine (13.1%), phthalic anhydride (8.1%), diethylenetetramine (6.9%) and phenylglycidylether (6.2%). In addition, three patients reacted to both epoxy resin and cycloaliphatic resin.

Key words

allergic contact dermatitis, epoxy resins, hardeners, plasticizers, reactive diluents