title: Dermatitis from plastic tote boxes impregnated with an antistatic agent.
abstract: An outbreak of dermatitis occurred among employees of a microelectronics firm. In a cross-sectional epidemiologic investigation, we found that dermatitis of the hands or arms had occurred among 14 of 29 (48.3%) employees of the incoming inspection department where plastic tote boxes recently purchased from one manufacturer had been used, compared to only one case among 17 (5.9%) employees in another department which had not used these boxes. Affected workers could detect an oily film on the surfaces of these new boxes, but not on older ones. We identified the oily film to be a surface accumulation of bis-hydroxyethyl-tallow amine (BHETA), an antistatic agent with which the tote boxes had been impregnated. Subsequent toxicologic investigation established that BHETA could provoke both follicular and nonfollicular irritant dermatitis, and was also a potential skin sensitizer. Antistatic agents should be considered as potential causes of dermatitis among employees who handle electrical parts transported in plastic boxes, particularly when affected employees can detect an oily film on the box surfaces.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH 45226.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Mathias
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Susten
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Fannick
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000588:Amines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004581:Electronics; D005223:Fats / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D005223:Fats; C055708:bis-hydroxyethyl-tallow amine