Epoxy resin allergy: prevalence and clinical spectrum in a regional population in the southwest of England

Epoxy resins, common in adhesives, cause occupational allergic contact dermatitis, particularly among male tradespeople. Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) is the screening agent for epoxy allergy in the British and European baseline series. Recent reports highlight new nonoccupational sources of sensitization in women engaged in craft hobbies. We investigated whether similar trends are emerging in our region. We retrospectively analysed the Cornish regional dermatology patch test data for a 13-year period (2009-2022). Of 2445 patients tested, 15 (0.6%) were sensitized to DGEBA: 9 male (1.2%) and 6 female (0.4%). Of the 10 sensitized individuals, 8 (80%) with known relevance were exposed occupationally, 3 of whom had airborne exposure. To be included in the baseline series, an allergen must patch test positive in ≥ 0.5% of consecutively tested patients. Our findings confirm that DGEBA remains a relevant allergen, supporting its continued inclusion. No cases of nonoccupational sensitization from new sources were identified.