title: Adverse effects of colophony.
abstract: Regarding colophony, the use in industries, adverse effects, diagnosis, pathophysiology and control are reviewed. Colophony is an unhomogeneous mixture of resin acids as like abietic acid and neutral substances. Colophony is used everywhere, in industry, daily life and medical supplies. Soldering workers are exposed to the colophony fumes heated up to the temperature of soldering irons. The effects of exposure to colophony are classified into bronchial asthma and contact dermatitis. Colophony fumes cause bronchial asthma by its nonspecific irritation. Inhalation challenge test and repeated spirometry during working day may help the diagnosis of colophony induced asthma. Improvement of working environment for soldering and development of new flux instead of colophony will be necessary. A study on contact dermatitis revealed that colophony and its related compounds are one of major causes for contact dermatitis. Cases of dermatitis by depilatory agents used to remove hair from slaughtered swine, anti-slipping cream for ballet shoes or resin for cello strings have been reported. Patch test may contribute to the diagnosis of dermatitis caused by colophony.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Keira
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aizawa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karube
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niituya
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shinohara
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuwashima
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takata
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012116:Resins, Plant / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013638:Tars / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D012116:Resins, Plant; D013638:Tars; C013893:rosin