Nine years of patch testing with isocyanates in a clinic of occupational dermatology.

Background: Isocyanates are used as starting materials of polyurethane (PU) products. They are relatively important occupational skin sensitizers.

Objectives: To analyse results of a large isocyanate patch test series of 19 isocyanate test substances and 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (MDA), a marker of 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) hypersensitivity.

Environmental and occupational exposure to bisphenol compounds in Finland.

The aim of the study was to assess non-occupational and occupational exposure to bisphenol compounds in Finland. The participants were 151 non-occupationally exposed volunteers and 15 potentially exposed employees of a sewage-pipe relining company and a floor-coating company. The following chemicals were measured in the urine samples: bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE), bisphenol F diglycidyl ether (BFDGE), and the metabolites of the latter two [bisphenol A (2,3-dihydroxypropyl) glycidyl ether (BADGE·HO), bisphenol A bis(2,3-dihydroxypropyl) ether (BADGE·2 HO), bisphenol A (3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl) (2,3-dihydroxypropyl) ether (BADGE·HCl·HO), bisphenol A (3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl) glycidyl ether (BADGE·HCl), and bisphenol A bis(3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl) ether (BADGE·2HCl) and bisphenol F bis(2,3-dihydroxypropyl) ether (BFDGE·2 HO), and bisphenol F bis(3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl) ether (BFDGE·2HCl)].

2-Cyanoethyl dimethyldithiocarbamate, a new contact allergen found in accelerator-free nitrile gloves.

Background: Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) from rubber glove usage is usually caused by rubber additives such as the accelerators. However, in analyses of the suspected gloves, ordinary rubber allergens are not always found. Accelerator-free rubber gloves are available, but some patients with accelerator allergy do not tolerate them and might also be patch test positive to them.

Acrylates in artificial nails-Results of product analyses and glove penetration studies.

Background: Artificial nail materials are mixtures that are prone to contain several sensitizing (meth)acrylates. It is not known whether the listing of (meth)acrylates is correct in these products' packages. Protective gloves suited for nail work are needed.

Occupational asthma, rhinitis and contact urticaria from greenhouse work.

Background: The current knowledge about occupational allergic diseases among greenhouse workers is scant.

Aims: To describe greenhouse workers' occupational allergic diseases.

Methods: We identified 28 greenhouse workers with occupational allergic diseases in 2002-2020 by conducting a systematic search in the patient register of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

Exposure to dust, endotoxins and microbes in Finnish vegetable greenhouses.

Introduction And Objective: In Finland and other northern countries, vegetable greenhouse workers are exposed to airborne dust and microbes all year round. The aim of the study was to assess respiratory exposure to dust, endotoxins and microbes, and to identify the risk phases of respiratory and skin exposure to promote safe working methods.

Material And Methods: Work in greenhouses was observed and recorded in a structured form.

Clinical Characteristics of Irritant-Induced Occupational Asthma.

Background: Work is a substantial contributing factor of adult-onset asthma. A subtype of occupational asthma (OA) is caused by irritant agents, but knowledge of the clinical outcomes of irritant-induced asthma (IIA) is incomplete.

Objectives: To evaluate whether the clinical picture of IIA differs from that of sensitizer-induced OA.

High Prevalence of Sensitization to Mites and Insects in Greenhouses Using Biologic Pest Control.

Background: Mites and insects are widely used as biologic pest control in greenhouses. A few studies have reported sensitization to mites among greenhouse workers, but the prevalence of sensitization to pest control insects is not known.

Objective: We aimed to determine the prevalence of IgE-mediated sensitization to pests and their control organisms in the population of exposed greenhouse workers and the relationship between sensitization and allergic symptoms.

Occupations and exposure events in acute and subacute irritant-induced asthma.

Background: Exposures leading to irritant-induced asthma (IIA) are poorly documented.

Methods: We retrospectively screened the medical records of patients with IIA diagnosed in an occupational medicine clinic during 2000-2018. We classified the cases into acute (onset after single exposure) and subacute (onset after multiple exposures) IIA.

Ten years of contact allergy from acrylic compounds in an occupational dermatology clinic.

Background: Contact allergy from acrylic compounds is a "hot topic". Knowledge on the exact chemical composition of acrylic products is superficial.

Aims: To retrospectively describe patients with allergic reactions to acrylic compounds.

Asthma onset after exposure to fluorinated hydrocarbons in the presence of combustion.

Fluorinated hydrocarbons, which can thermally degrade into toxic hydrofluoric acid, are widely used as, for example, cooling agents in refrigerators and air conditioning systems and as medical aerosol propellants. Hydrofluoric acid is a known causative agent of irritant-induced asthma. We report on two patients with asthma initiation shortly after exposure to fluorinated hydrocarbon-based cooling agents while welding or smoking cigarettes in a confined space.

Phenotyping Occupational Asthma Caused by Acrylates in a Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: While acrylates are well-known skin sensitizers, they are not classified as respiratory sensitizers although several cases of acrylate-induced occupational asthma (OA) have been reported.

Objective: To evaluate the characteristics of acrylate-induced OA in a large series of cases and compare those with OA induced by other low-molecular-weight (LMW) agents.

Methods: Jobs and exposures, clinical and functional characteristics, and markers of airway inflammation were analyzed in an international, multicenter, retrospective cohort of subjects with OA ascertained by a positive inhalation challenge to acrylates (n = 55) or other LMW agents (n = 418) including isocyanates (n = 125).

Skin exposure to epoxy chemicals in construction coating, assessed by observation, interviews, and measurements.

Background: Epoxy resin systems (ERSs) are among the leading causes of occupational allergic contact dermatitis.

Objectives: To identify riskful exposures and sources of skin exposure, and to quantify skin exposure to diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) epoxy monomer, in construction coating work.

Methods: Skin exposure to epoxy chemicals was studied in 5 coating companies through (a) interviews and visual observation, (b) quantifying DGEBA on 12 workers' skin by tape-stripping, (c) measuring DGEBA on 23 surfaces by wipe-sampling, and (d) quantifying DGEBA in new sewage pipe.

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by colophonium.

Background: Colophonium is a common contact allergen that is present not only in household products but also in occupational settings.

Objectives: To describe the sources of occupational exposure to colophonium and the occupations at risk of colophonium allergy.

Methods: We reviewed patch test files from the years 2002 to 2017 at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health for patients with allergic reactions to colophonium and abietic acid.

Occupational Asthma From Epoxy Compounds.

Background: Two-component epoxy resin systems (ERSs) composed of epoxy resin and polyamine hardeners are extensively used in industrial and construction coating. Triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC) is another type of epoxy derivative, mostly encountered in polyester powder paints. Epoxy compounds are well-known skin sensitizers, but their respiratory-sensitizing potential is largely unknown.

3-(Bromomethyl)-2-chloro-4-(methylsulfonyl)- benzoic acid: a new cause of sensitiser induced occupational asthma, rhinitis and urticaria.

Objectives: 3-(Bromomethyl)-2-chloro-4-(methylsulfonyl)-benzoic acid (BCMBA) has not previously been identified as a respiratory sensitiser. We detected two cases who presented respiratory and urticaria symptoms related to BCMBA and had positive skin prick tests to the agent. Subsequently, we conducted outbreak investigations at the BCMBA-producing factory and performed clinical examinations to confirm occupational diseases.