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Construction workers developed a rash, probably as a consequence of exposure to an irritant at work. Carpenters were at greater risk than other workers. The large number of cases and the distribution of the rash on the hands and arms suggests that dermatitis in most workers was an irritant reaction. The distribution of the cases by time indicates that a substantial increase in cases occurred in 1986 compared to 1985 and that this increase was especially apparent in the summer months. The incidence of rash declined again as the weather cooled. This suggests that there may be an interaction between heat and/or humidity and contact with an irritant inside of the power plant. Although the risk of dermatitis was clearly greatest among carpenters handling fire-retardant lumber, toxicity testing with various wood extracts did not support the hypothesis that the dermatitis was due to a chemical irritant effect of the treated wood. However, it is important to note that where a positive test result would
support the hypothesis, the negative results do not necessarily rule out the fire-retardant lumber as the causative agent.
The negative findings may have resulted from limitations of the test and/or variables that were not controlled such as,
1) a variation in the fire-retardant lumber (i.e. the particular lumber subjected to toxicity testing did not contain the
substance responsible for the symptoms),
2) a physical characteristic of the lumber necessary for a reaction to
develop, or
3) conditions inside the power plant, such as high heat and humidity, acting in combination with the
fire-retardant lumber.
There are no reports in the literature of dermatitis following exposure to fire-retardant lumber. Another fire-retardant material, tris(2,3-dibronopropyl)phosphate (TRIS), used as a fire-retardant of childrens clothing, hasbeen reported to cause dermatitis.
4) Treated lumber from a new supplier was first shipped to the project on April 11,
1986. This new formulation or a single batch of toxic timber may have been the cause of the problem.
Uncured resins (such as melamine-formaldehyde) are a recognized cause of occupational dermatitis.
5) Although analysis of the bulk wood samples for formaldehyde was qualitative in nature; i.e. the type of analysis used does notdistinguish between the amount of "free" (available) formaldehyde and the amount driven off by the heat involved inthe analytical process, the presence of formaldehyde in the wood products was demonstrated. Because formaldehyde is so well recognized as causing a variety of cutaneous problems in humans,
6 the source of the dermatological symptoms experienced by the carpenters may well be formaldehyde in the treated lumber. Seasonal variation in onset and degree of symptoms may be directly attributable to the degree of perspiration generated by the employees and behaviors attributable to warm weather (i.e. use of short sleeve garments).