Occupational contact urticaria and protein contact dermatitis: causes and concomitant airway diseases.

Background: Contact urticaria (CU) and protein contact dermatitis (PCD) are mainly induced by an immediate, IgE-mediated immunological mechanism. Immediate sensitization is also linked to asthma and/or allergic rhinitis.

Objectives: To report causes of work-induced CU and PCD, and to evaluate the occurrence of concomitant airway diseases.

Occupational contact dermatitis caused by 1,3-benzenedimethanamine, N-(2-phenylethyl) derivatives in hardeners for epoxy paints and coatings.

Background: Amines in epoxy hardeners are significant causes of occupational allergic contact dermatitis among workers who use epoxy resin systems.

Objectives: To describe a novel group of contact allergens: N-(2-phenylethyl) derivatives of the reactive amine 1,3-benzenedimethanamine (1,3-BDMA).

Methods: We describe the clinical examinations and exposure of 6 patients with occupational contact allergy to derivatives of 1,3-BDMA.

Occupational contact allergy to methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone.

Background: Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)/methylisothiazolinone (MI) and MI are common preservatives in industrial and household products and in cosmetics. Occupational contact allergy to MCI/MI or MI has been reported among painters and paint factory workers in particular.

Objectives: To retrospectively describe patients with occupational contact allergy to MCI/MI and MI at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH).

Occupational contact dermatitis caused by aniline epoxy resins in the aircraft industry.

Background: Tetraglycidyl-4,4'-methylenedianiline (TGMDA) is an aniline epoxy resin used in, for example, resin systems of pre-impregnated composite materials (prepregs) of the aircraft industry. Allergic contact dermatitis caused by TGMDA in prepregs has been described previously.

Objectives: To report on 9 patients with occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by TGMDA in epoxy glues used in helicopter assembly.

Contact allergy to reactive diluents and related aliphatic epoxy resins.

Background: Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A resin (DGEBA-R) is the most common sensitizer in epoxy systems, but a minority of patients also develop contact allergy to reactive diluents.

Objectives: To analyse the frequency and clinical relevance of allergic reactions to different epoxy reactive diluents and related aliphatic epoxy resins.

Methods: Test files (January 1991 to June 2014) were screened, and the clinical records of patients with allergic reactions were analysed for occupation, concomitant allergic reactions, and exposure.

Prick testing with chemicals in the diagnosis of occupational contact urticaria and respiratory diseases.

Background: Little is known about the use of prick tests with chemicals in diagnosing occupational diseases.

Objective: To evaluate the use of prick tests in the diagnosis of occupational contact urticaria, asthma and rhinitis caused by chemicals (undertaken at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health).

Material And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the patient and test files for the period 1 January 1991 to 31 May 2011.

Occupational contact dermatitis caused by D-limonene.

Background: Limonene is widely used as a fragrance substance and solvent in cleansing products. Oxidized limonene is a frequent contact allergen among consumers of cosmetics, personal care products, and scented household cleaning products. Less is known about the sources of occupational exposure and occupational contact dermatitis caused by limonene.

Contact allergy to epoxy hardeners.

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.

Screening occupational contact allergy to bisphenol F epoxy resin.

Background: Epoxy resins based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F (DGEBF) are widely used as such in applications requiring chemical resistance, and also together with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A resin (DGEBA-R). Concomitant patch test reactions to DGEBA-R and DGEBF resin (DGEBF-R) are common. Previous studies have yielded conflicting results on the frequency of independent DGEBF-R contact allergies.

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by coconut fatty acids diethanolamide.

Background: Coconut fatty acids diethanolamide [cocamide diethanolamine (cocamide DEA)] is a surface-active derivative of coconut oil that is used in industrial, household and cosmetic products. Cocamide DEA contact allergy has been reported relatively seldom.

Objectives: To describe cocamide DEA-positive patients in an occupational dermatology clinic.

Occupational asthma, rhinitis, and contact urticaria caused by oxidative hair dyes in hairdressers.

Background: Oxidative hair dyes commonly contain paraphenylene diamine (PPD) and its derivatives, a well-known cause of delayed hypersensitivity among both consumers and hairdressers. They are also considered possible causes of occupational respiratory diseases. Despite the widespread use of hair dyes, there are only a few reports of asthma, rhinitis, and contact urticaria caused by PPD and related compounds.

Prediction of obeche wood-induced asthma by specific skin prick testing.

Background: It has previously been shown that a positive skin prick test (SPT) result is a good predictor of a positive specific inhalation challenge (SIC) in patients with occupational asthma (OA) related to wheat or rye flours. This association has not been previously studied in OA attributable to obeche wood.

Aims: To describe a clinical series of patients with OA induced by obeche wood.

Occupational contact allergy to monomeric isocyanates.

Background: The monomeric isocyanates diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), 2,4-toluene diisocyanate (TDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) are used in polyurethane products and sometimes cause contact allergy.

Objectives: To describe patients with isocyanate contact allergy in an occupational dermatology clinic.

Methods: Test files were screened for allergic reactions to isocyanates and 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (MDA).

Contact allergy to aliphatic polyisocyanates based on hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate (HDI).

Background: Aliphatic polyisocyanates based on hexamethylene 1,6-diisocyanate (HDI) are components of lacquers, coatings, and spray paints. They are mainly composed of HDI trimers, but also contain larger oligomers, and minute amounts of HDI monomers (<1%). HDI trimers occur as biuret, isocyanurate and asymmetrical types.

Occupational methacrylate and acrylate allergy--cross-reactions and possible screening allergens.

Background: Acrylic resin monomers, especially acrylates and methacrylates, are important occupational allergens.

Aims: To analyse patterns of concomitant patch test reactions to acrylic monomers in relation to exposure, and to suggest possible screening allergens.

Patients/methods: We reviewed the patch test files for the years 1994-2009 at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health for allergic reactions to acrylic monomers, and analysed the clinical records of sensitized patients.

Contact allergy to epoxy (meth)acrylates.

Background: Contact allergy to epoxy (meth)acrylates, 2,2-bis[4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloxypropoxy) phenyl]propane (bis-GMA), 2,2-bis[4-(2-hydroxy-3-acryloxypropoxy)phenyl]-propane (bis-GA), 2,2-bis[4-(methacryl-oxyethoxy)phenyl] propane (bis-EMA), 2,2-bis[4-(methacryloxy)phenyl]-propane (bis-MA), and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) is often manifested together with contact allergy to diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) epoxy resin.

Objective: To analyse patterns of concomitant allergic reactions to the five epoxy (meth)acrylates in relation to exposure.

Methods: We reviewed the 1994-2008 patch test files at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) for reactions to the five epoxy (meth)acrylates, and examined the patients' medical records for exposure.

Occupational contact urticaria caused by cyclic acid anhydrides.

Background: Cyclic acid anhydrides often cause allergic respiratory diseases, but contact urticaria because of these anhydrides has been considered rare.

Objective: We describe 21 patients diagnosed with occupational contact urticaria at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health during the period 1990-2006.

Method: Prick test with human serum albumin (HSA)-acid anhydride conjugates, determination of specific immunoglobulin E (IgE), and open application were used in the diagnosis.

Occupational contact allergy to formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers.

Background: Formaldehyde allergy is common and usually derives from formaldehyde-releasing biocides in cosmetic and other products.

Objectives: To analyse patterns of patch test reactions to formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing compounds and the sources of sensitization.

Patients/methods: At the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, we screened the patch test files for allergic reactions to formaldehyde and 12 formaldehyde-releasing compounds.

IgE-mediated occupational asthma from epoxy resin.

Background: Epoxy resins (ERs) are used in paints and other protective coatings, including flooring materials. Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) ERs (BADGE ERs) account for about 75% of the ERs used world-wide. ERs can cause both immediate and delayed allergic reactions, but immediate reactions are rare.

Occupational methacrylate and acrylate allergy from glues.

Background: Glues and sealants are important causes of methacrylate and acrylate allergy.

Aim: This study aimed to analyse patterns of allergic patch test reactions to acrylic monomers in relation to exposure in patients sensitized from glues.

Patients/methods: We screened the patch test files at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health from 1994 to 2006 for allergic reactions in the 'Methacrylate series' and analysed the clinical records of sensitized patients.