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Studies on the prevalence of hand dermatitis in construction painting are rare. Our aim was to study the painters' chemical exposure and the prevalence of self-reported skin symptoms on hands and forearms. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted on 1000 Finnish male construction painters and 1000 carpenters (response rates 60.6% and 60.4%, respectively). We used 2 definitions for symptom-based hand dermatitis (liberal > or = 2 symptoms and strict criteria > or = 3) and logistic regression analysis, adjusted with age and atopy. Painters reported more symptoms of hand dermatitis than carpenters (12-month prevalence 22.5% and 14.2%, P < 0.05; strict criteria 13.3% and 6.4%, P < 0.05). A dose-response relationship was found for reporting symptoms and exposure to several solvent-based (SB) and water-based (WB) products. When exposure was combined into 1 variable, daily use of SB epoxy/urethane paints (OR 5.3, 95% CI 2.2-12.9; strict criteria 6.8, 2.3-19.9) and WB putties/plasters (1.9, 1.2-3.0; strict criteria 2.0, 1.1-3.9) were associated with hand dermatitis, whereas using only WB paints was not a risk factor. In conclusion, painters reported significantly more symptoms of hand dermatitis than carpenters. Putties/plasters emerged as a risk factor for dermatitis in construction painting.

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Bisphenol A is used as an antioxidant in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics and as an inhibitor of end polymerization in PVC. Since 1998, we have investigated 4 cases of contact allergy from bisphenol A in PVC gloves. Only the case of the first patient, a packer in the food industry, has been reported in detail. A dentist and an oral hygienist apprentice had used disposable PVC gloves made by the same manufacturer, both in 1999. The dentist's PVC gloves contained 0.044% bisphenol A. In 2002, a cabin servant had used 2 brands of household-type PVC gloves. Her gloves contained 0.12% and 0.07% bisphenol A. Moreover, 2 of the patients reacted to p-tertiary butyl catechol, a polymerization inhibitor in PVC, but the connection between the allergic reaction and the PVC gloves could not be proven. In 2002, we analysed 16 brands of disposable PVC gloves for medical use, covering at least 80% of the Finnish market. We found a very small amount of bisphenol A in 1 brand, and no p-tertiary butyl catechol in any of the gloves. Nowadays, it seems that manufacturers avoid using bisphenol A in the production of disposable gloves for medical use, but bisphenol A should be remembered as a possible contact allergen in PVC products.

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OBJECTIVE: The aim was to study the causes of respiratory hypersensitivity in dental personnel based on the statistics of the Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases (FROD; 1975-1998) and the patient material of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH; 1990-1998). METHODS: Details about the cases of respiratory hypersensitivity were compiled from the FROD. The occupational rhinitis diagnoses studied at the FIOH were based on work-related symptoms and a change in the status of the nasal mucosa during challenge testing; and the diagnosis of occupational asthma based on reactions in challenge testing, or on IgE positivity and peak flow monitoring at work and during days off. RESULTS: A total of 64 cases of occupational respiratory diseases (ORDs) was diagnosed in dental personnel during 1975 to 1998 according to the FROD; two cases in 1975 to 1989, and 62 in 1990 to 1998. Twenty-eight cases were of occupational asthma (18 caused by methacrylates), 28 occupational rhinitis (six caused by methacrylates), seven allergic alveolitis and one organic dust toxic syndrome (ODTS). The non-acrylate-material diagnosed in 1990-1998 at the FIOH comprised three cases of asthma and one of rhinitis caused by chloramine-T (sodium- N-chlorine- p-toluene sulphonamide); as well as one case of asthma, seven cases of rhinitis, and two cases of combined rhinitis and conjunctivitis caused by natural rubber latex (NRL). Furthermore, one case of occupational rhinitis caused by Nobetec containing colophony was diagnosed. The incidence rate (IR) of ORD increased from 0 in 1988 to a peak of 105.1 new cases per 100,000 working years in 1995. During the last observation year, i.e. 1998, the IR was 55 new cases per 100,000 workers. The IR in dental personnel was lower than in the whole working population in Finland up until 1992, but since then has been greater than in the whole population, peaking in 1995 when the IR of dental personnel was 2.55 times greater than in the whole population. CONCLUSION: The present study shows the increasing frequency of respiratory hypersensitivity among dental personnel. Besides methacrylates, important causes of respiratory hypersensitivity are NRL and chloramine-T.

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Unsaturated polyester (UP) cement caused allergic contact dermatitis in car repair work. The resin was a condensate of polyols and maleic anhydride with reactive solvent, auxiliary substances, and inorganic reinforcement substances. To identify the causative chemicals, the cement was tested on a sensitized patient. For analysis, samples of the resin were eluted with acetone and eluted with hexane to precipitate inorganic material and large polyester molecules. The eluate was evaporated. The remainder, dissolved in acetone, was separated into fractions on silica plates by thin layer chromatography (TLC). On the developed (hexane/chloroform, 15/85) plates, 20 bands were obtained under UV-light at 254 nm. Samples of the bands were scraped and used for patch testing. The scraping at a retention factor (Rf) of 0.24 caused a skin reaction. The bands at this retention were removed from six plates, combined, eluted with acetone and purified again by TLC. The purified fraction mixed in petrolatum in the dilution series was used for conclusive patch testing on the patient. An allergic reaction was induced at down to 0.003% wt/wt. According to MS and IR analyses, the isolated compound was diethyleneglycol maleate (DEGM, MW204). In addition to the resin part, the sanding dust also contained this monomer.

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Synthetic mineral fibres (i.e. man-made vitreous fibres, MMVF) are classified into glass filament, mineral wool (glass wool, rock wool and slag wool), refractory ceramic fibres, and fibres for special purposes. This paper analyses the data on occupational irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) caused by MMVF during 1990-99 in Finland according to the Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases (FROD). A total of 63 cases from MMVF were reported. 56 were diagnosed as ICD, and 2 as allergic contact dermatitis, both from rock wool. 53 out of 63 cases were due to mineral wool or glass filaments; half of the cases, according to a rough estimate, were due to mineral wool and a half due to glass filaments used in lamination work. Carpenters, building workers and insulation workers have the highest risk of ICD from mineral wool. 4 cases in carpenters, 4 in building workers and 2 in insulation workers were reported from MMVF. For every 100 000 employed workers, only 1.6 cases of ICD in carpenters, 2.7 in building workers and 9.1 in insulation workers were annually due to MMVF, respectively. Mineral wool used in construction work, insulation, etc., cannot be considered to be a common cause of occupationally induced ICD. However, information on harmful skin effects of MMVF is useful to exposed persons in the prevention of the effects.

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