Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from alkanolamineborates in metalworking fluids

Area of Science:

• Occupational dermatology
• Chemical allergy
• Corrosion inhibition technology

Background:

• Alkanolamineborates are widely employed as corrosion inhibitors in industrial coolants.
• Contact allergy to these substances can affect workers, such as machinists, necessitating accurate diagnostic methods.

Observation:

• Three machinists presented with suspected contact allergy to alkanolamineborates.
• Standard patch testing protocols needed modification; alkaline nature of alkanolamineborates required dissolution in an acidic buffer to prevent false-positive results.
• Reactivity patterns varied among patients when tested with different alkanolamineborates, suggesting multiple sensitizing agents.

Findings:

• Two distinct reactivity patterns were observed, indicating the presence of at least two separate sensitizers within the alkanolamineborate mixtures.
• The raw materials, ethanolamines and boric acid, did not elicit positive patch test reactions in the affected individuals.
• Thin-layer chromatography revealed that individual alkanolamineborates are complex mixtures of various substances, with compositional differences between different alkanolamineborate products.

Implications:

• A single alkanolamineborate cannot serve as a universal marker for diagnosing contact allergy to this class of chemicals.
• Accurate diagnosis of alkanolamineborate allergy requires careful selection of test allergens and consideration of their complex chemical composition.
• Further research into the specific sensitizing components of alkanolamineborates is warranted for improved diagnostic and preventative strategies in occupational settings.