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Contact allergy to epoxy hardeners
Author(s) -
AaltoKorte Kristiina,
Suuronen Katri,
Kuuliala Outi,
HenriksEckerman MajLen,
Jolanki Riitta
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
contact dermatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0536
pISSN - 0105-1873
DOI - 10.1111/cod.12280
Subject(s) - epoxy , triethylenetetramine , diethylenetriamine , bisphenol a , allergic contact dermatitis , contact allergy , contact dermatitis , allergy , isophorone , diamine , patch test , ethylenediamine , materials science , polymer chemistry , dermatology , chemistry , medicine , organic chemistry , composite material , immunology
Summary Background Diglycidylether of bisphenol A resin is the most important sensitizer in epoxy systems, but a minority of patients develop concomitant or solitary contact allergy to epoxy hardeners. At the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, several in‐house test substances of epoxy hardeners have been tested in a special epoxy compound patch test series. Objectives To analyse the frequency and clinical relevance of allergic reactions to different epoxy hardeners. Methods Test files (January 1991 to March 2013) were screened for contact allergy to different epoxy hardeners, and the clinical records of patients with allergic reactions were analysed for occupation, concomitant allergic reactions, and exposure. Results The most commonly positive epoxy hardeners were m ‐xylylenediamine (n = 24), 2,4,6‐tris‐(dimethylaminomethyl)phenol (tris‐ DMP ; n = 14), isophorone‐diamine (n = 12), and diethylenetriamine (n = 9). Trimethylhexamethylenediamine (n = 7), tetraethylenepentamine (n = 4), and triethylenetetramine (n = 2) elicited some reactions, although most patients were found to have no specific exposure. Allergic reactions to hexamethylenetetramine, dimethylaminopropylamine and ethylenediamine dihydrochloride were not related to epoxy products. Conclusions Tris‐ DMP is an important sensitizer in epoxy hardeners, and should be included in the patch test series of epoxy chemicals.