[Occupational contact dermatitis induced by allergens present in rubber. I. Allergy to rubber accelerators]

During the period between January 1989 and 15 April 1994 allergy to chemical compounds present in rubber was found in 51 (15%) out of 339 patients with occupational dermatitis. In this group (20 workers of the metallurgical industry, 15 health service workers, 6 workers of the building and 3 of the rubber industries, 2 farmers and 5 drivers) the frequency of allergy to 15 accelerators of the thiuram group, thiocarbamates, thiazoles as well as derivatives of diphenylguanidine and thiocarbamide was investigated. Thiurams caused over-sensitivity in 52.9% of patients, thiocarbamates in 41.2%, thiazoles in 35.3%, guanidine derivatives in 11.8% and thiocarbamide in 9.8%. In general, allergy to thiocarbamates was concomitant with allergy to thiurams (20 out of 21 patients allergic to carbamates) and over-sensitivity to thiazoles was very often parallel to allergy to thiurams (8 out of 18 patients allergic to thiazoles). Accelerators present in the rubber of protective gloves proved to be the most frequent source of allergy especially in health service workers.