Abstract
In most cases, allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), acquired through exposure to epoxy resin compounds (ERCs), is caused by the epoxy resin based on the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA-ER). In rare cases an isolated allergy to non-DGEBA-ERs, reactive diluents, or hardeners occurs without positive patch tests to any other ERCs tested. During 1974 to 1990 we have had 113 patients with occupational ACD from ERCs. Thirty of the 113 patients (27%) had occupational ACD from epoxy hardeners. Five of these cases are presented here. Three cases of isolated hardener allergy were detected. One patient had contact allergy to diethylenetriamine from the hardener of a spray paint, and another from that of a mortar adhesive. Two patients, a painter and a process worker, had become allergic to 2,4,6-tris-(dimethylaminomethyl)phenol (tris-DMP) and to the isophoronediamine (IPDA) in the hardeners of epoxy paints and coatings that they handled. The painter had isolated allergies to the hardener compounds, but the process worker was also allergic to the DGEBA-ERs. The fifth patient had become sensitized to three components of the hardeners of concrete floor coatings, ie, to IPDA, trimethylhexamethylenediamine, and to a component containing 30% xylylenediamine. He was also allergic to the DGEBAERs. To find out about epoxy hardener allergies, patients should be tested with their “own” hardeners. The test concentrations are dependent on the free polyamine contents in the hardeners. Testing with isolated hardener compounds is highly desirable to identify the specific allergens.
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