Epoxy resin systems

Starting material for various plastics. It is used in two-component adhesives, insulating materials, paints and protective coatings, building materials and orthopaedic prostheses.

• Epoxy resin systems are used in numerous industrial and craft areas due to their special properties such as high mechanical, thermal and chemical resistance. They are used as adhesives, moulding compounds, joint fillers, binders for fibre compounds, for electrical insulation and as coatings. They are also used in two-component paints and as additives to various building materials. They can be components of mixtures of various synthetic resins.
• Relevant occupational exposures: Building trades (e.g. tile and floor layers, concrete workers, stone renovators) and plastics processors (e.g. in the aircraft industry, in the manufacture of sports equipment). Similarly, from an occupational health point of view, individual activities in electric motor manufacture (electrical insulation), metalworking (coatings, screw-locking, gluing), woodworking (gluing) and furniture manufacture (gluing) are to be regarded as closed.
• Four special features are to be particularly appreciated in the case of allergies to epoxy resin systems:
• Components of epoxy resin systems are very potent allergens.
• The mono- and oligomeric starting substances of epoxy resin systems can cause aerogenic contact eczema.
• As a rule, cured epoxy resin systems do not cause skin symptoms in sensitized persons.
• For the diagnosis of allergic contact eczema to epoxy resin systems, the "epoxy resin" test in the standard series may not be sufficient under certain circumstances. If this test fails, the commercially available epoxy components must also be tested. For this purpose, knowledge of the compositions and suitable test concentrations and preparations of the individual substances must be available. Some substances may only be tested in high dilution (e.g. glycidyl ether).
• Effect of allergy: In the case of allergies to components of epoxy resin systems, a "moderate" effect of the allergy can usually be assumed. In the case of very high sensitisation, a "serious" effect can be assumed, but should be specifically justified.

1. Diepgen TL et al. (2005) Evidence-based assessment of the effect of type IV allergies in the reduction of earning capacity - assessment of occupational skin diseases. Dermatologist 56: 207-223
2. Diepgen TL, Dickel H, Becker D, Blome O, Geier J, Schmidt A, Schwanitz HJ, Skudlik C, Wagner E, for the working group "Evaluation of allergens in BK 5101" of the ABD in the DDG (2002) Assessment of the effect of allergies in the reduction of earning capacity in the context of BK 5101. Part I: Acrylates/methacrylates, epoxy resin systems, formaldehyde, dichromate, rosin, latex, nickel, p-phenylenediamine. Dermatol Occupation Environment 50: 139-154