Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from unsaturated polyester resin in a car repair putty.
BACKGROUND
Unsaturated polyester (UP) resins are widely used as cements in car repair painting to produce a smooth surface before the final painting. We report two car painters with hand and face dermatitis who were sensitized to a UP resin used for car repair cements.


METHODS
Patch testing with commercial substances and ingredients and extracts from UP resins was used to verify the sensitivity.


RESULTS
Both patients showed an allergic patch test reaction to a UP resin. They also had an allergic patch test reaction to diethyleneglycol maleate (DEGM), an extract of a UP resin.


CONCLUSIONS
Both patients had been patch tested elsewhere with negative results because UP resins had not been used for patch testing. Accordingly, patients with dermatitis who have been exposed to UP resins need to be patch tested with UP resins. The specific chemical causing allergic contact dermatitis in our patients was DEGM.
Section of Dermatology, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki.
L
L
Kanerva
T
T
Estlander
K
K
Alanko
P
P
Pfäffli
R
R
Jolanki
D001336:Automobiles; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010328:Patch Tests; D011091:Polyesters / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012116:Resins, Plant / Q000009:adverse effects*
D011091:Polyesters; D012116:Resins, Plant