title: Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by epoxy chemicals: occupations, sensitizing products, and diagnosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epoxy products are among the most common causes of occupational allergic contact dermatitis. Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A resin (DGEBA-R) is the most important sensitizer in epoxy systems.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe patients with occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by epoxy products.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with allergic reactions to epoxy chemicals were chosen from test files (January 1991 to June 2014). Only patients with occupational contact allergy to some component of epoxy resin systems were included. We analysed patch test results, occupation, symptoms, and exposure data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a total of 209 cases with occupational contact allergy to epoxy chemicals. The largest occupational groups were painters (n = 41), floor layers (n = 19), electrical industry workers (n = 19), tile setters (n = 16), and aircraft industry workers (n = 15). A total of 82% of the patients reacted to DGEBA-R. Diagnosis of the DGEBA-R-negative patients required testing with m-xylylenediamine, N,N'-tetraglycidyl-4,4'-methylenedianiline, 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether, 2,4,6-tris-(dimethylaminomethyl)phenol, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F resin, N,N'-diglycidyl-4-glycidyloxyaniline, isophoronediamine, 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane, diethylenetriamine, and cresyl glycidyl ether. The hands/upper extremities were most commonly affected (69%), but facial symptoms were also frequent (60%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Allergic contact dermatitis caused by to epoxy products cannot always be diagnosed by the use of commercial test substances. Workplace products need to be tested.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Medicine, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH), 00250, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Kristiina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aalto-Korte
authors.affiliation: Occupational Medicine, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH), 00250, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pesonen
authors.affiliation: Occupational Medicine, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH), 00250, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Katri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suuronen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D004853:Epoxy Resins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004853:Epoxy Resins
keywords: aircraft industry; coating; electrical industry; floor laying; painters; pipe relining; tile setting