El caso «Ardystil»: cronología de una intoxicación laboral (1990-2003)

The Ardystil case represents an instance of occupational poisoning that occurred in several textile factories, in which the chemicals Acramin FWN, Acramoll W, and Acrafix FHN were employed in textile airbrushing. The primary outbreak, which has garnered significant attention, took place in 1991 in Cocentaina (northern part of the province of Alicante, Spain). A subsequent outbreak was later identified in Tlemcen (Algeria) in 1993. This study examines both outbreaks, with a primary focus on the initial episode, while also analyzing the second outbreak to elucidate the international connections among experts. The paper reviews in chronological order the events associated with the Ardystil case, from the initial reactions to the symptoms by the workers and the factory owner, to the identification of the outbreak by public health authorities and the subsequent toxicological research, as well as the public controversies surrounding the ensuing trial