AIRBORNE CONTACT-DERMATITIS FROM UNEXPECTED EXPOSURE TO ROSIN (COLOPHONY) - ROSIN SOURCES REVEALED WITH CHEMICAL-ANALYSES

We report 3 cases of contact dermatitis in rosin-sensitive individuals caused by exposure to airborne rosin components from different source s. Case no. 1 was a female office worker with a facial dermatitis caus ed by rosin components which emanated from the linoleum floor covering in her office. Floor material containing wood flour and rosin was rel eased into the air, causing a facial dermatitis in the rosin-sensitive subject. Case no. 2 involved a woman who worked in a factory producin g dairy product cartons and had a dermatitis on her lower legs, lower arms and upper chest. Her dermatitis was caused by dust from the paper cartons and contact allergy to rosin components probably aggravated h er dermatitis. Case no. 3 was a female office worker with a relapsing dermatitis on her eyelids. Her dermatitis was caused by a rosin-contai ning floor polish, which was seen as a powder on the office floor. Ext racts of suspected material and products were patch tested and analyse d for the presence of rosin components with HPLC and GC techniques. A discussion and recommendations on chemical analyses of rosin component s follow. We conclude that a thorough investigation, including chemica l analyses, can rule out non-specific diagnoses and offer a solution t o the patient's skin problems. (C) Munksgaard, 1996.