Allergic contact dermatitis in American aircraft manufacture

This study was prompted by the paucity of generally available information on the materials used in modern aircraft manufacture and the allergic contact dermatitis caused by those materials.

The purpose of this study was to review the author's experience with aircraft workers over a period of 5 years, with attention to documentable allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) that can be attributed to their work.

All patients who were referred for evaluation of a possible work-related injury were subjected to a routine workup. This included an occupational history, a specific delineation of their jobs, review of Material Safety Data Sheets, physical examinations, patch testing to possible causative agents, and, when necessary, inspection of the specific workplaces.

Forty-four workers were found to have ACD that, more probably than not, was caused by a specific material in their workplaces. Although many common contactants appeared with predictable frequency, the use of "pre-preg" materials and modern sealants often led to ACD that could not be diagnosed with "standard" screening trays of test materials.

When evaluating dermatitis in someone engaged in the manufacture of aircraft, one must be aware of the numerous materials used in this industry that have the potential to cause ACD.