Epidemiological and Occupational Pattern of Patch-Test Reactions to p-Tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde Resin in North-Eastern Italy, 1997–2021

<b>Background</b>. Skin contact with items containing p-tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde resin (PTBP-FR) may induce sensitization and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). <b>Methods</b>. This multi-centric cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of sensitization to PTBP-...

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Main Authors: Luca Cegolon, Alessandro Badalini, Francesca Larese Filon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Life
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/5/698
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author Luca Cegolon
Alessandro Badalini
Francesca Larese Filon
author_facet Luca Cegolon
Alessandro Badalini
Francesca Larese Filon
author_sort Luca Cegolon
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background</b>. Skin contact with items containing p-tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde resin (PTBP-FR) may induce sensitization and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). <b>Methods</b>. This multi-centric cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of sensitization to PTBP-FR in 30,629 consecutive outpatients patch-tested during 1997–2021 in four research centers from Northern Italy: Padua; Pordenone; Trieste; and Trento/Bolzano/Rovigo. Patch tests were applied on the upper back of patients with suspected ACD. All patches were removed after 48 h and read at 72 or 96 h. <b>Results</b>. The overall prevalence of PTBP-FR sensitization was 1.11% (=341/30,629) of cases, with lower prevalence occurring in the Province of Trento/Bolzano/Rovigo (0.36%). The body area most frequently affected were the hands (36.32%), followed by face (19.52%) and legs (8.09%). During 1997–2004, the prevalence of PTBP-FR positivity was significantly lower in Trento/Bolzano/Rovigo (aOR = 0.19; 95%CI: 0.11; 0.35), whereas it was higher among restaurant workers (aOR = 2.44; 95%CI: 1.44; 4.13). During the entire study period (1997–2021), excluding Trento/Bolzano/Rovigo, PTBP-FR positivity significantly decreased in the period 2011–2021 (aOR = 052; 95%CI: 0.39; 0.69) compared to 1997–2010 in males (OR = 0.69; 95%CI: 0.52; 0.91). <b>Conclusions</b>. Females were likely to react to PTBP-FR at patch tests. Prevalence of PTBP-FR sensitization significantly decreased over time, possibly reflecting reduced occupational and non-occupational exposure due to replacement of the resin with other adhesive products (acrylates or epoxy agents).
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spelling doaj-art-58eeac11bbbb447da3d317934dfcc0a02025-08-20T03:14:46ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292025-04-0115569810.3390/life15050698Epidemiological and Occupational Pattern of Patch-Test Reactions to p-Tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde Resin in North-Eastern Italy, 1997–2021Luca Cegolon0Alessandro Badalini1Francesca Larese Filon2Department of Medical, Surgical & Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34128 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Medical, Surgical & Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34128 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Medical, Surgical & Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34128 Trieste, Italy<b>Background</b>. Skin contact with items containing p-tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde resin (PTBP-FR) may induce sensitization and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). <b>Methods</b>. This multi-centric cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of sensitization to PTBP-FR in 30,629 consecutive outpatients patch-tested during 1997–2021 in four research centers from Northern Italy: Padua; Pordenone; Trieste; and Trento/Bolzano/Rovigo. Patch tests were applied on the upper back of patients with suspected ACD. All patches were removed after 48 h and read at 72 or 96 h. <b>Results</b>. The overall prevalence of PTBP-FR sensitization was 1.11% (=341/30,629) of cases, with lower prevalence occurring in the Province of Trento/Bolzano/Rovigo (0.36%). The body area most frequently affected were the hands (36.32%), followed by face (19.52%) and legs (8.09%). During 1997–2004, the prevalence of PTBP-FR positivity was significantly lower in Trento/Bolzano/Rovigo (aOR = 0.19; 95%CI: 0.11; 0.35), whereas it was higher among restaurant workers (aOR = 2.44; 95%CI: 1.44; 4.13). During the entire study period (1997–2021), excluding Trento/Bolzano/Rovigo, PTBP-FR positivity significantly decreased in the period 2011–2021 (aOR = 052; 95%CI: 0.39; 0.69) compared to 1997–2010 in males (OR = 0.69; 95%CI: 0.52; 0.91). <b>Conclusions</b>. Females were likely to react to PTBP-FR at patch tests. Prevalence of PTBP-FR sensitization significantly decreased over time, possibly reflecting reduced occupational and non-occupational exposure due to replacement of the resin with other adhesive products (acrylates or epoxy agents).https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/5/698p-tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde resin (PTBP-FR)allergic contact dermatitissensitizationpatch testoccupational exposureclinical relevance
spellingShingle Luca Cegolon
Alessandro Badalini
Francesca Larese Filon
Epidemiological and Occupational Pattern of Patch-Test Reactions to p-Tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde Resin in North-Eastern Italy, 1997–2021
Life
p-tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde resin (PTBP-FR)
allergic contact dermatitis
sensitization
patch test
occupational exposure
clinical relevance
title Epidemiological and Occupational Pattern of Patch-Test Reactions to p-Tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde Resin in North-Eastern Italy, 1997–2021
title_full Epidemiological and Occupational Pattern of Patch-Test Reactions to p-Tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde Resin in North-Eastern Italy, 1997–2021
title_fullStr Epidemiological and Occupational Pattern of Patch-Test Reactions to p-Tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde Resin in North-Eastern Italy, 1997–2021
title_full_unstemmed Epidemiological and Occupational Pattern of Patch-Test Reactions to p-Tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde Resin in North-Eastern Italy, 1997–2021
title_short Epidemiological and Occupational Pattern of Patch-Test Reactions to p-Tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde Resin in North-Eastern Italy, 1997–2021
title_sort epidemiological and occupational pattern of patch test reactions to p tert butylphenol formaldehyde resin in north eastern italy 1997 2021
topic p-tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde resin (PTBP-FR)
allergic contact dermatitis
sensitization
patch test
occupational exposure
clinical relevance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/5/698
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AT alessandrobadalini epidemiologicalandoccupationalpatternofpatchtestreactionstoptertbutylphenolformaldehyderesininnortheasternitaly19972021
AT francescalaresefilon epidemiologicalandoccupationalpatternofpatchtestreactionstoptertbutylphenolformaldehyderesininnortheasternitaly19972021