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1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one in disposable polyvinyl chloride gloves for medical use.

Aalto-Korte K, Ackermann L, Henriks-Eckerman ML, Välimaa J, Reinikka-Railo H, Leppänen E, Jolanki R

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH), Control of Hypersensitivity Diseases, Helsinki, Finland. kristiina.aalto-korte@ttl.fi

BACKGROUND: Benzisothiazolinone is used as a slimicide in the manufacture of disposable powder-free polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gloves. We recently reported 6 patients from dentistry and health care probably sensitized to benzisothiazolinone in PVC gloves. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate how widely disposable PVC gloves for medical use on the Finnish market in 2006 contain benzisothiazolinone and to report new cases from 2 clinics in Helsinki. METHODS: 31 brands of disposable PVC gloves were analysed for their benzisothiazolinone content. We looked through the patient material of Helsinki University Central Hospital to find benzisothiazolinone allergic patients. We also described 3 previously unpublished benzisothiazolinone allergic patients from Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. RESULTS: 9 (30%) of the 31 glove brands contained 3-26 p.p.m. benzisothiazolinone. From the 2 clinics, we found 5 new benzisothiazolinone allergic patients who had used PVC gloves containing benzisothiazolinone. In addition, 3 patients had used disposable PVC gloves whose benzisothiazolinone content remained unknown. CONCLUSIONS: In Finland, benzisothiazolinone in powder-free PVC gloves has caused a small epidemic of allergic contact dermatitis in dental personnel and other health care workers. 1/3 of the disposable PVC gloves contained some benzisothiazolinone. A concentration of 20 p.p.m. benzisothiazolinone in a glove seems to be enough for sensitization.

Published 8 November 2007 in Contact Dermatitis, 57(6): 365-70.
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