Plastics and Occupational Contact Eczema

Overview

The author presents a review of different groups of plastic substances which may cause either during production or use of plasticproducts occupational skin affections. The dermotropic effect may be irritational or allergic. Contact irritational dermatitis iscaused mainly by strongly alkaline hardeners - aliphatic amines. Resins not hardened and with a low molecular weight cause skinsensitization of the late eczematous type; as a result of hardening the allergenic potency recedes. The most frequent sensitizer inplastics are epoxide and acrylate resins. The cause of allergic contact eczema on the hands may be different additives. Recently theincidence of occupational contact eczema caused by acrylates or epoxy acrylates from adhesives, glues and cements is increasing.In the conclusion the author recommends preventive measures to reduce the incidence of occupational skin affections.

Key words:
plastics, vinyl plastics, epoxyd resins, formaldehyde resins, acrylic plastics, polyester resins, isocyanate resins, fiber-glass, occupational allergic contact dermatitis, prevention