Occupational dermatoses among fibreglass-reinforced plastics factory workers.
Fibreglass-reinforced plastics (FRP) factory workers are at high risk of developing occupational dermatoses because of their exposure to many chemicals used in the manufacture of plastics as well as to glass fibre or dust. Patch tests were carried out on 29 workers involved in FRP manufacturing processes where unsaturated polyester (UP) resin was used, to investigate the causes of their skin problems. Of the 22 workers who reported experiencing skin problems, 16 showed positive results to at least 1 chemical, including 6 cases of multiple sensitivity. 2 showed positive reactions to UP base resin, 6 to cobalt chloride, 5 to benzoyl peroxide (BPO), 4 to methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKPO), 2 to para-tertiary butyl catechol (PTBC), 1 to styrene and 1 to formaldehyde. After taking into account their exposures and reported causes by questionnaires and their patch test results, 7 cases were diagnosed as allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) due to chemicals, 3 as irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) due to chemicals, and 3 as dermatitis due to mechanical irritation (MI) from glass fibre or dust, as well as 9 as ACD and/or MI. 18 of the total of 29 subjects (62.1%), including 2 workers without a history of skin problems, were sensitized to at least 1 chemical. Cobalt, peroxides, PTBC and UP base resin were the common causes of ACD.
Department of Public Health, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Kumamoto City, Japan. may20@h6.dion.ne.jp
Keiko
K
Minamoto
Megumi
M
Nagano
Tsukasa
T
Inaoka
Makoto
M
Futatsuka
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D002396:Catechols / Q000009:adverse effects; D003035:Cobalt / Q000009:adverse effects; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D012117:Resins, Synthetic / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000485:Allergens; D002396:Catechols; D012117:Resins, Synthetic; C009753:fiberglass; D003035:Cobalt; C015047:p-tert-butyl catechol; C018021:cobaltous chloride; D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide