title: Occupational contact allergy and dermatitis from methylisothiazolinone after contact with wallcovering glue and after a chemical burn from a biocide.
abstract: Skin exposure to biocides containing high concentrations of methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI) may cause severe chemical burns and may also induce sensitization. We report two cases in which skin exposure to a newly launched biocide containing 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (MI) and 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one led to sensitization to Ml, which in the second case was preceded by a chemical burn. A study was performed to investigate the pattern of reactivity to MCI and Ml in two patients who presumably had a primary sensitization to Ml and in one patient who had been sensitized to MCI/MI by being patch-tested. The patients were patch-tested with serial dilutions of MCI/MI, MCI, MI, and 2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one. The first two patients reacted to both MCI/MI and the separate active ingredients, with a higher level of reactivity to Ml than to MCI. The third patient reacted to MCI/MI and MCI only. A biocide containing Ml caused sensitization and occupational contact dermatitis in the first two patients, through contact with wallpaper glue in one case and after a chemical burn in the other case.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Malmö University Hospital, SE-205 02 Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marléne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isaksson
authors.forename: Birgitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gruvberger
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bruze
mesh_terms: D000269:Adhesives / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects; D002057:Burns, Chemical; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000009:adverse effects; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000269:Adhesives; D000485:Allergens; D013844:Thiazoles