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OCCUPATIONAL ALLERGIC CONTACT DERMATITIS CAUSED BY 2,4,6‐TRIS‐(DIMETHYLAMINOMETHYL)PHENOL, AND REVIEW OF SENSITIZING EPOXY RESIN HARDENERS
Author(s) -
KANEKRVA LASSE,
ESTLANDER TUULA,
JOLANKI RIITTA
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-4362.1996.tb05050.x
Subject(s) - epoxy , triethylenetetramine , bisphenol a , allergic contact dermatitis , diethylenetriamine , diamine , curing (chemistry) , plasticizer , contact dermatitis , polymer chemistry , materials science , allergy , organic chemistry , composite material , chemistry , medicine , immunology
Background. Epoxy resin compounds (ERG) include a large number of sensitizing chemicals such as epoxy resins (ER), hardeners (curing agents), and reactive diluents. Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) caused by ERCS is often occupational. Materials and Methods. We report a patient, sensitized to a hardener of a two‐component epoxy paint. Three conventional patch test sessions were performed to diagnose the causative chemical. We also review the literature on sensitizing epoxy‐resin hardeners. Results. A 47‐year‐old nonatopic woman developed dermatitis from a two‐component epoxy paint. Patch testing with epoxy resin was negative, but 2,4,6–tris(dimethylaminomethyl)phenol (tris‐DMP), used in the paint hardener, induced an allergic patch test reaction. We also review briefly other epoxy hardeners that have caused allergic dermatitis, including: (1) aliphatic polyamines, e.g., ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine, 3‐dimethylaminopropylamine, and trimethylhexamethylenediamine; (2) cycloaliphatic polyamines, e.g., isophoronediamine and 3,3′‐dimethyl‐4,4‐diaminodicyclohexylmethane; (3) aromatic amines, such as 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane, m‐phenylene diamine, and 1,3‐xylylene diamine; (4) dicyanodiamide; (5) triglycidyl isocyanurate, an epoxy compound that may be used as an epoxy‐resin hardener; and (6) additives in epoxy accelerators, such as hexavalent chromate. Conclusions. No one chemical can be used to screen for sensitization to the many different epoxy hardeners. Extensive patch testing may be required to reveal the hardener that has caused the allergy. The hardener, 2,4,6‐tris‐dimethylaminomethyDphenol (tris‐DMP), is a new sensitizer. To verify ACD caused by tris‐DMP, patch‐testing at 1% in petrolatum is suggested.