title: Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from alkanolamineborates in metalworking fluids.
abstract: Alkanolamineborates are extensively used in coolants as corrosion inhibitors. In this paper, 3 machinists with contact allergy to alkanolamineborates are reported. To avoid false-positive test reactions due to the alkalinity of the alkanolamineborates, they should be tested when dissolved in an acidic buffer. When various alkanolamineborates were tested in dilution series in the 3 patients, 2 types of reactivity patterns emerged, indicating the existence of at least 2 separate sensitizers in alkanolamineborates. The raw materials, ethanolamines and boric acid, did not yield any positive patch test reactions. Thin-layer chromatography investigations demonstrated that each alkanolamineborate consists of many substances, which differed in part between different alkanolamineborates. The present study shows that it is not possible to use 1 particular alkanolamineborate for tracing contact allergy to alkanolamineborates in general.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Dermatology, General Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bruze
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hradil
authors.forename: I L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Eriksohn
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gruvberger
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Widström
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests