Korean J Occup Environ Med.
2009 Sep;21(3):276-282.
A Case of Allergic Contact Dermatitis Caused by Epichlorohydrin and tris-DMP in an Epoxy Resin Worker
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine & Institute of Environmental & Occupational Medicine, Pusan Paik Hospital, Inje University, Busan, Korea. dhjw92@naver.com
- 2Department of Dermatology, Pusan Paik Hospital, Inje University, Busan, Korea.
- 3Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency, Kyeong-Nam Dong Bu Center, Busan, Korea.
Abstract
- BACKGROUND
Epoxy resin compounds are one of the common causes of occupational allergic contact dermatitis. In Korea, most cases of allergic contact dermatitis from epoxy resin compounds have been caused by the epoxy resin itself. We report a rare case of allergic contact dermatitis which was caused by epichlorohydrin, an ingredient of epoxy resin and 2,4,6-tris-(dimethylaminomethyl)phenol (tris-DMP), a kind of hardeners.
CASE REPORT
A 43-year-old man, who had worked at the epoxy resin glue manufacturing factory since 1999, presented with mild and intermittent erythematous papules and rashes on his face, neck, trunk, and both arms. He was dealing with epoxy resin, epichlorohydrin, bisphenol A and hardeners. After a new hardener was added in August 2008, his skin lesions worsened from what he had experienced in the past. A skin patch test was performed to identify the causative chemicals of the skin lesion. Epichlorohydrin and tris-DMP elicited positive reactions after 48 hours and increased after 96 hours.
CONCLUSION
This case confirmed occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by epichlorohydrin and tris-DMP, an ingredient of epoxy resin and a hardener, respectively.
