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Dermatitis from plastic tote boxes impregnated with an antistatic agent.

D E Bennett¹, C G Mathias, A S Susten

¹Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH 45226.

Journal of Occupational Medicine. : Official Publication of the Industrial Medical Association

|March 1, 1988

Summary

An outbreak of dermatitis was linked to plastic tote boxes used in a microelectronics firm. The boxes contained bis-hydroxyethyl-tallow amine (BHETA), an antistatic agent that caused irritant contact dermatitis in employees.

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Area of Science:

Occupational Health
Dermatology
Toxicology

Background:

An outbreak of dermatitis affected employees in a microelectronics firm.
The dermatitis was concentrated in the incoming inspection department where new plastic tote boxes were used.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the cause of a dermatitis outbreak among microelectronics firm employees.
To identify the causative agent in plastic tote boxes and its dermatologic effects.

Main Methods:

A cross-sectional epidemiologic investigation comparing departments with and without new plastic tote box usage.
Identification of an oily film on new boxes as bis-hydroxyethyl-tallow amine (BHETA).
Toxicologic investigation to determine BHETA's potential to cause dermatitis.

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Main Results:

48.3% of employees using new boxes developed dermatitis, compared to 5.9% in the control group.
Affected workers noted an oily film on new boxes, identified as BHETA.
BHETA was confirmed to cause irritant dermatitis and is a potential skin sensitizer.

Conclusions:

Bis-hydroxyethyl-tallow amine (BHETA) in plastic tote boxes is a likely cause of irritant contact dermatitis.
Antistatic agents in packaging should be considered in occupational dermatitis investigations.
Visible oily films on boxes may indicate potential dermatologic hazards for workers.