Protective Gloves

7 patients were occupationally sensitized to dental composite resin products (DCR): 6 dental nurses and 1 dentist. All had a positive patch test to their DCR. 2 independent types of allergy were seen; (a) aromatic epoxy acrylate, and/or (b) aliphatic acrylates. 4 out of 5 patients reacted to BIS-GMA, the most widely used aromatic epoxy acrylate in DCR, but not the dentist. She and 2 dental nurses were allergic to aliphatic acrylates, including triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TREGDMA) and triethylene diglycol diacrylate (TREGDA). 4 patients were allergic to epoxy resin (ER) (containing mainly MW 340), possibly an impurity in some DCR. 2 patients were also allergic to methyl methacrylate (MMA): the dentist, had been exposed to MMA, but the nurse's exposure was uncertain. 1 patient was also allergic to rubber gloves, 2 to rubber chemicals but not their gloves, and 5 to disinfectants used. diagnosis was delayed as long as 13 years in spite of previous patch testing. Dermatologists need to use the patients' own DCR and the (meth)acrylate series for patch testing. No dental nurses could continue their occupation, but the dentist could occasionally handle DCR if wearing PVC gloves. Dental personnel need to know about the risks of DCR, and use no-touch techniques and protective gloves.

In the Netherlands, special guidelines and safety precautions were introduced about 10 y ago for preparation and administration of antineoplastic agents. However, little is known about the effectiveness of these measures. In this study, occupational exposure to antineoplastic agents of nine pharmacy technicians who were involved in drug preparation was investigated. Cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil, and methotrexate accounted for 95% of the antineoplastic agents prepared; therefore, the presence of these compounds was monitored. During preparation, cyclophosphamide was detected in the air of the work environment (< 0.04-10.1 micrograms/m3). Contamination of and permeation through latex gloves were found for each of the three compounds. The uptake of cyclophosphamide was assessed by the determination of cyclophosphamide in urine. The drug was found in urine samples of six pharmacy technicians, including three persons who were not directly involved in the preparation of cyclophosphamide. The amounts excreted ranged from 0.2 to 19.4 micrograms/24 h. The results strongly suggest that inhalation is of minor importance for internal exposure, compared with other, presumably dermal, routes.

An orthopaedic surgeon developed dermatitis from acrylic materials. The acrylic monomer was found to penetrate surgical rubber gloves readily. Cases of "rubber glove dermatitis" with negative patch tests may have a similar explanation. Laboratory tests suggest that monomer does not damage rubber sufficiently to allow bacteria to penetrate gloves, but it remains possible that this would happen under theatre conditions.