[Contact sensitization to antioxidants in rubber industry workers]

The most frequent contact allergens in rubber industry are antioxidants, substances against again of rubber. The aim of the work is determining their role in generating of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) in rubber industry workers depending on the kind of antioxidants, sex of workerw, lenght of working, pace of work. 68 workers (first group) with contact dermatitic and 40 of healthy workerw (second group) in rubber industry were examined. Patch tests and LIF on 5 antioxidants were done. Positive patch tests had 54,41% workers from first group and 17,50% of workers from second group. Most frequent antioxidant is IPPD (N-isopropyl-N-phenylparaphenylendiamin). More frequent sensitization to this allergen was noticed in women (61,29% : 48,65%). Sensitization to antioxidants was more found in workers with longer working experience. Indoubtful influence of workers place to formation of ACD was determined. The results of LIF are not in complete correlation with patch tests and clinical picture. It is concluded that contact sensitization to antioxidants particularly to IPPD often occurs in rubber industry, as well as depends on the length of exposure, working place, sex etc. In diagnosis of ACD to antioxidants, priority is given to clinical picture and patch tests.