Abstract

CABRERA FERNANDEZ, Enrique et al. Isotiazolinas: importancia en el desarrollo de dermatitis de contacto profesional. Med. segur. trab. [online]. 2007, vol.53, n.208, pp.01-07. ISSN 1989-7790.

The Kathon is a preservative obtained of the mixture of two isothiazolinones. It is preferently used in the cosmetic industry at 3-15 ppm concentrations. Its presence has increased from the end of the 70's in Europe and from the middle of the 80's in USA. The product presence has also imposed in house-cleaning use and at higher concentrations in the industrial use as motor oils, latex emulsions, painting oils, revealers for photography and x-ray, oils for diesel engines… All of these make it to be an important irritating product in our private and professional life. Objectives: 1. To demonstrate the relation of the Kathon like irritating substance in producing contact dermatitis. 2. To demonstrate to the relation between Kathon and contact dermatitis of labor origin and certain professions. Methodology: Descriptive study: revision of clinical histories of the patients who have been observed in the Department of Labor Dermatology of the National Institute of Medicine and Labor Security during years 2004-2006; 2333 patients, found with different dermatological injuries with possible labor relation. We will look for the Kathon-sensitive persons and we will analyze the variables: sex, age, dermatological profession, dermatological diseases, location of the injuries, product handling that contains Kathon. We will make the statistical analysis with program SPSS. Results: Of the 110 positive reactions to Kathon, 32 are related to the labour activities (29.09%). We can add other 13 doubful cases to them (11.81%) and of these positive cases, 46.6% were men. Conclusions: The Kathon is an additive very used in the labour ambit. The professions that are using more products with Kathon are those with greater number of cases registered.

Keywords : Isotiasolines; contact dermatitis; Kathon; professional; cosmetics.

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