Erik Zimerson, Magnus Bruze
DOI: 10.1080/000155502762064539

Contact allergy to p- tert- butylphenol-formaldehyde resin is not rare. This resin consists of a large number of substances, most of which are unknown. For diagnostic and preventive reasons, the chemical identity of the sensitizers should be known as well as their sensitizing capacities, cross-reaction patterns and presence in the environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the sensitizing capacities and cross-reaction patterns for 5- tert -butyl-2-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-benzaldehyde and 5- tert -butyl2-hydroxy-benzaldehyde in the guinea pig maximization test. 2,6-Dimethylol p- tert -butylphenol, p- tert -butylcate chol, 2-methylol p- tert -butylphenol, p- tert -butylphenol, 4- tert -butyl-2-(5 -tert -butyl-2-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethylbenzyloxymethyl)-6-hydroxymethyl-phenol and 4- tert -butyl-2-(5- tert -butyl-2-hydroxy-benzyloxymethyl)-phenol were used as potential cross-reacting substances.5- tert-Butyl-2-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-benzaldehyde was shown to be a sensitizer (p = 0.041). In animals induced with this compound no cross-reactions to the putative crossreacting substances were seen. In contrast, 5- tert -butyl-2-hydroxy-benzaldehyde failed to induce sensitization and no cross-reactions were detected.