839 patients were patch tested with a series of 31 plastics and
glues allergens at a dermatologic clinic over a period of 7 years. 52 (6%) had a positive patch test reaction to 1 or more such
allergens. Clinic charts of 47 patients (out of 52) were available for the study. All but 3 patients had
dermatitis on their hands: 17 had only hand
dermatitis. 25 (53%) patients' test results were of present or past relevance to their
skin diseases. 11 patients (68%) with occupational
allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and 14 (45%) with non-
occupational dermatitis had relevant reactions. p-tertiary-butylphenol-
formaldehyde resin was the most common
allergen (9 cases). 7 patients reacted to diaminodiphenylmethane. 5 patients, who had
colophony allergy, reacted to
abietic acid and 4 to
abitol. There was no reaction to 14 test substances. Special series, such as this plastics and
glues series, reveal the cause of ACD less frequently than standard series. However, there is no other way to confirm
allergy to these usually industrial
allergens, which can also sensitize through non-occupational exposure during hobby working or through unpolymerized monomer left in the finished
plastic product.