title: Occupational contact allergy to components of polyester resin systems.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergic contact dermatitis caused by polyester resin is considered to be rare.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe 11 new patients diagnosed with occupational contact allergy to components of polyester resin systems in 1994-2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on occupations, patch test results, symptoms and exposure to polyester products were retrieved from patient files, covering 1994 to February 2015.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five patients reacted to unsaturated polyester resin putties. In 3 of these cases, putties were considered to be the main cause of the dermatitis. Four patients had cobalt allergy resulting from cobalt salts that were used as accelerators in polyester resins. Three patients were sensitized to triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC), a cross-linker in polyester powder paints.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two product types are of particular importance in contact allergy to polyester resin: powder paints cured by heat with TGIC as the cross-linker, and car putties. Car putties are used not only in repair car painting, but also in some industrial trades to smoothen surfaces before painting. As commercial patch test substances of polyester resin putties are lacking, patients' own products need to be tested. Cobalt salts are used in several types of polyester resin product as accelerators, and these must be considered as a possible cause of cobalt sensitization.
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: Katri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suuronen
mesh_terms: D001336:Automobiles; D003035:Cobalt / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000209:etiology*; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000209:etiology; D005387:Finland; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010150:Paint / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014227:Triazines / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; D014227:Triazines; D003035:Cobalt; C028786:teroxirone
keywords: 4-tert-butyl catechol; CAS no. 2451-62-9; car putties; cobalt; powder paints; triglycidyl isocyanurate