Airborne occupational allergic contact dermatitis from triglycidyl-p-aminophenol and tetraglycidyl-4,4'-methylene dianiline in preimpregnated epoxy products in the aircraft industry.
BACKGROUND
Very little is known about allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) from preimpregnated epoxy products (prepregs).


OBJECTIVE
To describe a patient with occupational ACD from prepregs, and report new quantitative data on the content of prepregs.


RESULTS
A laminator developed work-related vesicular hand dermatitis. He worked in an aircraft plant assembling aircraft parts, being exposed to preimpregnated carbon fiber and fiberglass sheets (prepregs), and epoxy adhesive tapes and foams. Triglycidyl-p-aminophenol (TGPAP; 1-0.25%, 2+; 0.05%, 1+) and tetraglycidyl-4,4'-methylene dianiline (TGMDA; 1%, 3+; 0.5-0.05%, 2+) provoked allergic patch test reactions, whereas o-diglycidyl phthalate was negative (1-0.05% pet) and standard epoxy provoked a weak (?+) reaction. Six prepreg products provoking allergic patch test reactions were analyzed for their TGPAP, TGMDA and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) content using gas and liquid chromatographic methods, showing up to 10% of TGPAP, 19% of TGMDA and 5% of DGEBA in the prepregs. An epoxy primer contained 61% of TGPAP.


CONCLUSIONS
TGPAP and TGMDA caused occupational ACD. These chemicals need to be used when patch testing patients are exposed to prepregs, because patch testing with DGEBA may be negative.
Kanerva
L
L
Section of Dermatology, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland. Lasse.Kanerva@occuphealth.fi
Jolanki
R
R
Estlander
T
T
Henriks-Eckerman
M
M
Tuomi
M
M
Tarvainen
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000401:Aircraft; D000627:Aminophenols / Q000009:adverse effects; D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010328:Patch Tests; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000627:Aminophenols; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; C414224:triglycidyl-p-aminophenol; C042840:tetraglycidyl-4,4'-methylene dianiline; C019273:bisphenol A diglycidyl ether; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds