[Contact allergy to paraphenylenediamine: a 10-year observation held in the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lódź].

BACKGROUND

Paraphenylenediamine (PPD), a major component of hair dye, usually induces non-occupational allergy in women. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of occupational and environmental sensitization to PPD over the last 10 years and to analyze the causes of this hypersensitivity.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Based on the medical records of 3224 patients (2153 women and 1071 men) examined in the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in the years 1997-2006, the prevalence of PPD allergy was investigated. Moreover, the rate of PPD cross-reactions with N-isopropyl-N-phenyl-paraphenylenediamine (IPPD) was also analyzed.

RESULTS

Positive response to PPD was found in 154 (4.8%) patients. The prevalence of this condition was twice as high in men (7.5%) than in women (3.4%). Among female professions inducing the detected allergy to PPD, hairdressers and nurses prevailed, while among men's jobs, locksmithing and related occupations as well as farming and bricklaying predominated. Of the 154 patients sensitized to PPD, only 27 (17.5%) also reacted to IPPD. In the group of patients (36 subjects) with IPPD allergy as many as 27 (75%) presented positive reactions. Occupational sensitization was found among hairdressers, beauty stylists, tanners, shoemakers, furrier, carpenters, and photographers. Among some of the locksmiths, welders, electricians, bricklayers, drivers, and farmers who reacted to both PPD and IPPD, black rubber was found to be the source of sensitization so that the reaction to IPPD was secondary. It is likely that the remaining patients performing these jobs cross-reacted to aromatic amines enclosed in crude oil derivatives and clothing dyes.

CONCLUSIONS

Allergy to PPD indicates a need to investigate other aromatic amines, which may appear to be the primary cause of occupational sensitization.