engleski

Contact allergy to bisphenol F epoxy resins in an occupational setting

Diglycidyl ethers of bisphenol A and F epoxy resin (DGEBA-ER and DFEBF-ER, respectively) products are widely used in various industries. DGEBA-ER is among the most prevalent industrial contact allergens, but independent contact allergy to DGEBF-ER is considered rare due to the significant cross-reactivity between DGEBA-ER and DGEBF-ER. We present here a diagnostic approach to a group of workers occupationally exposed to epoxy paint. A group of 9 workers had been working on anticorrosive protection of oil tanks, including sand blasting, washing with acetone, and spraying with two-component epoxy-based paint preheated to 30 oC. After 5 months of work, one worker developed eczematous changes (erythema, itchy vesicles, induration) on the face, neck, hands, and forearms. The company’s occupational physician initiated diagnostic procedures for a suspected occupational disease. All 9 workers were patch tested (PT) with the commercial DGEBA-ER allergen (1 % in petrolatum) with negative results. Analysis of safety data sheets determined that the relevant paint contains >70 % DGEBF-ER. Additional PT was performed in workers and two control subjects with in-house 0.5 % and 1 % paint preparations provided from the workplace. The worker with skin symptoms showed a positive skin reaction, with an intensity of reaction following increase in concentration, while PT was negative in others. The worker was diagnosed with occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by DGEBF-ER. As cross-reactivity between DGEBA-ER and DGEBF-ER is not equally presented for all DGEBF-ER isomers, independent sensitisation to DGEBF-ER should be evaluated in cases with typical exposure and clinical appearance, and negative PT with DGEBAER allergen.

anticorrosive protection ; cross-reactivity ; diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A epoxy resin ; diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F epoxy resin ; patch test

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