title: Chlorothalonil, a possible cause of erythema dyschromicum perstans (ashy dermatitis).
abstract: We studied 39 patients with erythema-dyschromicum-perstans-like dermatitis seen at Changuinola Hospital in Panama. They were compared with 41 controls. The 2 groups were native field workers of the banana plantations exposed to many pesticides. In 34 patients, there was a positive patch test reaction to 2,4,5,6-1,3-tetrachloroisophthalonilnitrile (chlorothalonil, TCPN) 0.001% in acetone. In 39 cases, biopsies showed a lichenoid tissue reaction compatible with a chronic pigmented dermatitis or erythema-dyschromicum-perstans-like dermatitis. Chlorothalonil is possibly the cause of the pigmented dermatitis observed in the 39 banana farm workers studied. Until additional studies are carried out, we consider this a possible rather than definite cause-and-effect relationship.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Dermatology Service, Social Security Hospital, Panama.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Penagos
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jimenez
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fallas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Malley
authors.forename: H I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Maibach
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005638:Fruit; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation; D007199:Indians, South American; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009570:Nitriles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010176:Panama / Q000453:epidemiology; D010328:Patch Tests
chemical_list: D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D009570:Nitriles; C005806:tetrachloroisophthalonitrile