Abstract
In the present study, contact allergens previously identified in colophony of the gum rosin type were also identified in tall-oil rosin. Two samples of Swedish tall-oil rosin were used for animal studies and patch testing. One sample was stored with a minimum of air exposure while the other was exposed to air for a prolonged time. The allergens were isolated and identified by the high performance liquid chromatography technique and mass spectrometric analysis in both samples. The allergenic compounds are oxidation products of resin acids. According to animal experiments, the sensitizing capacity of tall-oil rosin was increased by a higher content of oxidized material. Furthermore, when patch testing patients who have a known allergy to colophony, a slightly higher reactivity to the oxidized sample of tall-oil rosin was seen. A lower reactivity was seen for both samples of tall-oil rosin compared with that of gum rosin. The difference in allergenic potential between gum rosin and tall-oil rosin might mainly be a question of handling and storage before skin contact, because the allergenic capacity of tall-oil rosin was increased by exposure to air.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.