Contact Dermatitis
Volume 35, Issue 3, 1996, Pages 169-172

Transient re-emergence of oil of turpentine allergy in the pottery industry (Article)

Lear J.T.* , Heagerty A.H.M. , Tan B.B. , Smith A.G. , English J.S.C.
  • a Department of Dermatology, Central Out-Patients, Hartshill Road, Stoke On Trent ST4 7PA, United Kingdom, North Staffs NHS Trust, Central Out-Patients, Dermatology Department, Hartshill Road, Stoke on Trent ST4 7PA, United Kingdom
  • b Department of Dermatology, Skin Centre, Dudley Road Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom
  • c Department of Dermatology, Central Out-Patients, Hartshill Road, Stoke On Trent ST4 7PA, United Kingdom
  • d Department of Dermatology, Central Out-Patients, Hartshill Road, Stoke On Trent ST4 7PA, United Kingdom
  • e Department of Dermatology, Central Out-Patients, Hartshill Road, Stoke On Trent ST4 7PA, United Kingdom

Abstract

Allergy to oil of turpentine has diminished largely due to the use of cheaper substitutes in many occupations. However, 2 particular areas still reliant on real oil of turpentine are those of the perfume industry and ceramic decoration. We report 24 cases of hand dermatitis in pottery workers involved in ceramic decoration, paintresses, liners, gilders, enamellers and a fine china painter, seen in a 6-month period following a change from Portuguese to Indonesian turpentine, of whom 14 were sensitive to Indonesian turpentine, 8 to α-pinene, 4 to Δ-3-carene and 2 positive to turpentine peroxides. Previous reports suggest that Δ-3-carene is the main allergen and reports of sensitivity to a-pinene in the absence of sensitivity to turpentine peroxide, in particular to the hydroperoxide of Δ-3-carene, are few. Turpentine allergy continues to be a problem in the pottery industry and is more common than allergy to the heavy metals of the colours used in ceramic decoration. α-Pinene, an unusual allergen, appears to be the most common in our area. Reversion to Portuguese turpentine seems to have alleviated the problem.

Author Keywords

Allergic contact dermatitis α-pinene Pottery industry Oil of turpentine Δ-3-carene Occupational epidemic

Index Keywords

human ceramics Hand Dermatoses Turpentine Humans Monoterpenes contact sensitization Peroxides skin allergy Paint Allergens Solvents Terpenes occupational exposure Metals, Heavy Dermatitis, Allergic Contact Coloring Agents art Dermatitis, Occupational Article epidemic
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0029853305&doi=10.1111%2fj.1600-0536.1996.tb02336.x&partnerID=40&md5=aebcd917ddb1c3e33798d64e37125247
DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0536.1996.tb02336.x
ISSN: 01051873
Cited by: 25
Original Language: English