Occupational dermatoses in workers exposed to resins based on phenol and formaldehyde

During December 1985 and February 1986, an investigation was carried out into skin diseases among workers in a plant producing decorative equipment built of paper sheets impregnated with resol resins based on phenol and formaldehyde (P-F-R). A questionnaire was sent to all 238 employees and it was answered by 218 (91.6%). Previous and current dermatoses were reported by 98 workers and 89 of these were examined and patch tested. The patch testing was conducted with a standard test series and products from the working environment and revealed contact allergy to P-F-R in 9 persons and to formaldehyde in 1. Besides these 10 individuals with occupational allergic contact dermatitis, occupational dermatoses were diagnosed in an additional 20 workers; irritant contact dermatitis in 19 and chemical burn in 1. In total, the figure for occupational dermatoses was 30 (12.6%).