Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from alkanolamineborates in metalworking fluids.
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.
Bruze
M
M
Department of Occupational Dermatology, General Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
Hradil
E
E
Eriksohn
I L
IL
Gruvberger
B
B
Widström
L
L
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