Allergic contact dermatitis from anaerobic acrylic sealants

Three patients employed in electronic assembly operations had allergic contact dermatitis to polyethylene glycol (PEG) dimethacrylate, found in an anaerobic sealant. Clinical features in all three cases consisted of eczema localized predominantly on the distal parts of the fingers and the palmar aspects of fingertips; onycholysis developed in one patient. No cross reactions to methyl methacrylate were observed on patch testing. Guinea pig maximization testing with both the commercially available sealant and the active resin demonstrated that PEG dimethacrylate is a moderate skin sensitizer.