Colophony--uses, health effects, airborne measurement and analysis

Colophony (rosin) is a widespread natural product obtained form species of the pine family Pinaceae. One of the most important uses of unmodified rosin is in electronic solder fluxes while the main areas of use of chemically modified rosin are paper sizing, adhesives, paints, varnishes, printing inks and plasticisers. Colophony is well recognized as a skin sensitizer and is also the third highest cause of occupational asthma. However, the specific allergens involved particularly in occupational asthma have not been comprehensively assessed or identified. This paper reviews method of colophony production, its uses and health effects and discusses the important issue of its chemical analysis and the choice of a suitable marker for monitoring colphony fume.