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Morphology of glass fibers in electronics workers with fiberglass dermatitis--a scanning electron microscopy study
M Y Hsieh1, Y L Guo, J S Shiao
1Department of Dermatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, 138 Sheng-Li Road, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
Background:
Fiberglass is used as a reinforcement filler material in printed circuit boards (PCBs) which are widely used in the electronics industry. In a recent survey, we demonstrated that fiberglass dermatitis is the most common occupational dermatosis among electronics industry workers in Taiwan. Little is known, however, about the morphologic structures of the glass fibers which induce dermatitis. The purpose of this study was to assess the morphology of fiber spicules and to determine the relationship of this structure to fiberglass dermatitis.
Methods:
Fourteen female patients with a diagnosis of fiberglass dermatitis were selected for study. The diagnosis was confirmed in all patients by positive skin stripping for glass fibers and matching with glass fibers from dust collected in work areas and from samples collected by scraping the edge of PCBs. Samples of collected glass fibers were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Results:
SEM of the fiberglass samples revealed that fibers were approximately 10 microm in diameter. In samples from both the edge of PCBs and from dust collected in work areas, SEM revealed that most of the fibers were in bundles of various sizes and lengths. All fibers collected from patients' skin by tape stripping showed a singular spicule, most had a sharp free end, and the lengths were in the range 50-150 microm .
Conclusions:
Singular glass fibers with a sharp free end and a length of 50-150 microm are most likely to induce fiberglass dermatitis.
