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Biomedical subjects

Ann Pontén

Publications and source records attributed to Ann Pontén.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Concomitant contact allergy to the resins, reactive diluents and hardener of a bisphenol A/F-based epoxy resin in subway construction workers.

An outbreak of suspected contact dermatitis among subway construction workers was suspected to be due to a new bisphenol A/F-based epoxy resin system (ERS). The construction workers used ERSs during the insertion of iron bars into concrete walls. The objective of the study was to determine the components (if any) of the ERS responsible for the contact allergy. Patch testing was performed on 20 of the 22 construction workers who had had contact with the ERS, and to the various subcomponents of component A on 5 of the 7 who reacted to this component. 9 patients (9/22, 40.9%) had clinical symptoms and signs of suspected contact dermatitis at presentation. 7 of these 9, but none of the 11 asymptomatic individuals, were positive to component A, while all were negative to component B. Of the 5 cases receiving further patch testing, all reacted to m-xylylene diamine, 4 to 1,6-hexanediol diglycidyl ether, 3 to epoxy resins of the bisphenol F-type and trimethylolpropane triglycidyl ether 0.25% petrolatum, and only 1 to epoxy resins of the bisphenol A-type. Contact allergy to ERSs may involve hardeners and diluents as well as resins, and patch testing for reaction to all components should be performed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Formaldehyde in reusable protective gloves.

Due to the clinical findings in a single patient's case, formaldehyde was suspected to be present in clinically relevant levels in reusable protective gloves. Therefore, 9 types of gloves were investigated with the semi-quantitative chromotropic acid method. It was found that 6/9 gloves emitted some formaldehyde and that 4/9 gloves emitted > or =40 microg of formaldehyde. Most of the formaldehyde was found on the inside of the gloves. To get an indication of the clinical relevance, a comparison with a protective cream declared to contain the formaldehyde-releasing agent diazolidinyl urea was performed by comparing areas of gloves with areas of cream layers with thickness 1-2 mg/cm(2). It was found that the amounts of formaldehyde emitted from the gloves might be in the same range as emitted from a layer of cream.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

The validity of a questionnaire-based epidemiological study of occupational dermatosis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of a questionnaire and medical anamnesis to identify persons with dermatitis in an occupational setting. The design was a clinical epidemiological cross-sectional study. The study was performed between the second and fourth week of January 2001. A questionnaire was followed a week later by a medical occupational interview and a clinical dermatological examination, including a comprehensive patch test with potential workplace chemicals. The anamnesis and the clinical examination were made independently by occupational and dermatological physicians, and the skin examination was performed blinded to anamnestic data. The setting was the mother plants of a Danish-based international company producing wind turbine systems. The study population was a workplace cohort, highly exposed to epoxy resin systems and other chemicals, and totalled 724 production workers at 4 facilities. The rate of participation was 84.7%. Using enquete questions of current skin rash against the clinical presence of dermatitis, we found a sensitivity of 22% and a specificity of 89%, compared to 45% and 87%, respectively, when the anamnestic work history, taken by an occupational physician, was the screening parameter. Using 'workplace periodic prevalence' of dermatitis, we found sensitivities in the range of 63-76% by a questionnaire and 70-83% by medical anamnesis. Questionnaire screening by skin symptoms gave the highest values for redness, a sensitivity of 33% and a specificity of 76%, and decreasing validity parameters as more symptoms were added to the list of screening questions. We found that the use of a questionnaire and medical anamnesis were problematic, when the purpose was screening for contact dermatitis and allergy, in this industrial cohort manufacturing reinforced plastic products. But these instruments might be useful for epidemiological surveillance, when the questionnaire has been validated in the given occupational setting.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed2005

Allergic contact dermatitis from methyldibromoglutaronitrile.

BACKGROUND: Arriving at a diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis is a multistep procedure including the establishing of contact allergy, demonstration of current exposure to the sensitizer, and assessment of clinical relevance. Sometimes, these steps are easy to get through; at other times, there may be problems with every step. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the possible difficulties and pitfalls in establishing the presence of contact allergy and diagnosing allergic contact dermatitis from exposure to the preservative methyldibromoglutaronitrile (MDBGN). METHODS: Simultaneous patch-testing with petrolatum preparations of MDBGN at various concentrations, use testing, and chemical analysis with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: Contact allergy to MDBGN was established in two cases, with MDBGN in petrolatum at 0.5%. Results of HPLC investigation of moisturizers used by the patients and yielding positive results on patch and use tests disagreed with the information about preservatives on the labels of the moisturizers and with the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs). CONCLUSIONS: Patch testing with MDBGN in petrolatum at a concentration of less than 0.5% may fail to diagnose a clinically relevant contact allergy. The information on labels of products, on MSDSs, and from manufacturers may not be reliable, which indicates the need for chemical analyses.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Epoxy-based production of wind turbine rotor blades: occupational contact allergies.

BACKGROUND: An industry producing rotor blades for wind turbines with an epoxy-based technology had experienced an increasing number of workers with dermatitis, among whom the frequency of occupational contact allergy (OCA) was suspected to be underestimated. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency of OCA by patch-testing with a specially profiled occupational patch test series. METHODS: In a blinded study design, 603 workers were first interviewed and thereafter clinically examined. Based on a history of work-related skin disease, clinical findings of dermatitis, or both, 325 (53.9%) of the workers were patch-tested with an occupational patch test series and the European Standard patch test series. RESULTS: Of the 603 investigated workers, 10.9% had OCA and 5.6% had contact allergy to epoxy resin in the standard test series. Contact allergy to amine hardeners/catalysts was found in 4.1% of the workers. Among the workers with OCA, 48.5% reacted to work material other than epoxy resin in the European Standard patch test series. CONCLUSION: Approximately 50% of the workers with OCA would not have been detected if only the European Standard patch test series had been used.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis in a company manufacturing boards coated with isocyanate lacquer.

Over a short period of time, there was an outbreak of work-related skin lesions among workers at a company producing flooring laminate boards, after the introduction of a water-repellent lacquer based on diphenylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate (MDI). In 5 workers, patch testing was performed with a standard series, an isocyanate series and work-environmental products when indicated. 3 of the workers were tested with the lacquer, and contact allergy was found with concurrent reactions to 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (MDA). 1 of the 3 workers also showed a simultaneous reaction to MDI, whereas 1 showed a positive reaction to dicyclohexylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate (HMDI). Of the 2 individuals not tested with the lacquer, 1 reacted to both MDI and MDA, whereas the other reacted to a soap used at work. In 3 of 4 cases, the isocyanate reactions appeared after D3. Occupational contact with isocyanates should not exclusively be focused upon respiratory hazards, as this report shows that skin contamination probably increases the risk of developing contact allergy to isocyanates and isocyanate-related substances. When aiming at diagnosing contact allergy to isocyanates, it is desirable to perform a late reading, as positive reactions appear late. MDA appears to be a good marker for isocyanate hypersensitivity.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Occupational dermatoses in a metalworking plant.

In a plant producing advanced components for engines and drivelines we undertook a survey of occupational dermatoses, based on a questionnaire, clinical examination, and patch testing with a standard series and a series of samples from the working environment. The questionnaire was given to all 430 employees and it was answered and returned by 382 of these. 214 reported having had or having skin manifestations during the time of employment suspected of being work-related. 183 employees (164 metal workers, 19 office staff) participated in the clinical investigation, 182 (163 metal workers, 19 office staff) being patch tested. Occupational dermatoses were diagnosed in 23 of these 163 (14.1%) and in 1 of these 19 (5.3%). In all, irritant contact dermatitis was diagnosed in 12 metal workers, occupational allergic contact dermatitis in 11 (10 metal workers and 1 office clerk) and folliculitis in 1 metal worker. In the 11, neat oils were the cause in 4 workers, a water-based cutting fluid in 3 and various biocides in 4.

Adult↗