title: Screening occupational contact allergy to bisphenol F epoxy resin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epoxy resins based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F (DGEBF) are widely used as such in applications requiring chemical resistance, and also together with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A resin (DGEBA-R). Concomitant patch test reactions to DGEBA-R and DGEBF resin (DGEBF-R) are common. Previous studies have yielded conflicting results on the frequency of independent DGEBF-R contact allergies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report the results of over 11 years of screening with DGEBF-R.
  
  
  METHODS
  An in-house test substance of DGEBF-R (Epikote 862) was tested in the baseline patch test series, first at 1% and later at 0.25%. Test files were screened for allergic reactions to DGEBF-R and DGEBA-R, and the clinical records of positively reacting patients were analysed for occupation and exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 1972 patients, 66 (3.3%) reacted to DGEBF-R and 96 (4.9%) to DGEBA-R. Independent DGEBF-R allergies were seen in 5 patients only, and independent DGEBA-R allergies in 35. Specific exposure to DGEBF-R was found in 26 patients. The main occupational fields were the aircraft industry, the electrical and sports equipment industry, boat building, painting/floor coating, tile setting, and pipe relining.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Independent contact allergies to DGEBF-R were rare, and screening with it was not found to be useful.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Medicine, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH), 00250 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Kristiina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aalto-Korte
authors.forename: Katri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suuronen
authors.forename: Outi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kuuliala
authors.forename: Maj-Len
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Henriks-Eckerman
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jolanki
mesh_terms: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D004853:Epoxy Resins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010328:Patch Tests; D010636:Phenols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D015995:Prevalence; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D004853:Epoxy Resins; D010636:Phenols; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds; C423722:bisphenol F diglycidyl ether
keywords: Epikote® 862; composites; cross-allergy; diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA); diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F (DGEBF); patch test