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Hyposensitization to poison ivy after working in a cashew nut shell oil processing factory
Author(s) -
Reginella Ruthane F.,
Fairfield James C.,
Marks James G.
Publication year - 1989
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/j.1600-0536.1989.tb03145.x
Subject(s) - cashew nut , anacardiaceae , allergen , nut , contact dermatitis , toxicology , medicine , hand dermatitis , traditional medicine , allergy , food science , horticulture , chemistry , biology , immunology , engineering , structural engineering
19 adults were patch tested to urushiol, the allergen in poison ivy/oak, to determine their sensitivity to this allergen after working in a cashew nut shell oil (CNSO) processing plant. The cashew nut tree and poison ivy/oak are in the same botanical family, Anacardiaceae, and they share similar chemicals which cause allergic contact dermatitis. 13 of the 19 workers had a preemployment history of poison ivy sensitivity, with 10 developing CNSO dermatitis. After working in this factory for several months, 9 of the 13 noticed a decreased sensitivity or no sensitivity to poison ivy/oak. When tested to urushiol extract, only 3 reacted positively, 2 minimally. These results imply that hyposensitization to poison ivy/oak occurred in these employees after development of hardening to cashew nut shell oil.