American Journal of Industrial Medicine 21:135-136 (1992)
EDITORIAL
An Underrecognized Occupational Hazard Leo Djerassi, MO
Key words: reactive dyes, sensitizing chemical exposures, allergic responses, occupational asthma
Health hazards due to occupational exposure to reactive dyes have received limited attention by occupational physicians so far. Reactive dyes were introduced in the late 1950s and do not belong to the large volume commodities, although the number of compounds is constantly increasing. The order of their general toxicity is low, the LD,, fluctuating between 3,000 and 5,000 mg/kg in rats. The damage to health in man observed so far is due to their irritating and allergic properties of several compounds to skin, respiratory airways, and conjunctiva. In rabbits and mice a carcinogenic potential has been proved, the target organs to develop malignancies being the liver, followed by urinary bladder and intestines. The number of different compounds is considerable. According to an estimate of the “Health and Safety Executive,” more than 300 reactive dyes are available on the market. In 1978 the Colour Index published a list of 697 products by different manufacturers [Docker et al., 19871. The high figure of reactive dyes being an obstacle in investigating every compound separately for its allergic potential in man, a “Health and Safety Executive” research team pooled several dye conjugates in ten groups according to color codes [ 19801. The mixtures were investigated in the radio allergo sorbent test (RAST) and by skin tests and showed every group to have sensitizing properties. However, this technique does not reveal the specific reactive dye responsible for the reaction. Thus, every new observation, built on the solid foundation of clinical medicine, has an important diagnostic and preventive impact. Interestingly enough, the worker involved will usually point out the reactive dye responsible for the reaction. One of these dyes (Procion yellow MX4R) has been withdrawn from sale following a close clinical follow-up of workers exposed. In another instance, a black dye (Levafix Schwartz E5GA) proved to be a strong allergen, while animal experi-
Address reprint requests to Dr. Leo Djerassi, Horev Medical Center, Horev Street 15, Haifa 34341, Israel. Accepted for publication July 8, 1991.
0 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
136
Djerassi
ments revealed only a slight irritating effect. The dye has been out of use in textile factories in Israel since then [Feinstein and Djerassi, 19881. Romano and associates [ 19921 bring their experience with the allergic response to another reactive dye in the present issue of this journal-an additional warning for careful handling of these compounds. REFERENCES Docker A, Wattie JM, Topping MD. Lucyznska CM, Newman Taylor AJ, Pickering CA, Thomas P, Gompertz D (1987): Clinical and immunological investigations of respiratory disease in workers using reactive dyes. Br J Ind Med 44:534-537. Feinstein 0, Djerassi L (1988): Occupational allergy to reactive dyes in a textile factory. 16th Medichem Congress, Helsinki, Sept 27-30, pp 12-21. Health and Safety Executive (1980): Safe handling of dyestuffs in colour stores. Leeds. Romano C , Sulotto F, Pavan I. Chiesa A , Scansetti G (1992): A new case of occupational asthma from reactive dyes with severe anaphylactic response to the specific challenge. Am J Ind Med 21: 209-2 I 6.
EDITORIAL
An Underrecognized Occupational Hazard Leo Djerassi, MO
Key words: reactive dyes, sensitizing chemical exposures, allergic responses, occupational asthma
Health hazards due to occupational exposure to reactive dyes have received limited attention by occupational physicians so far. Reactive dyes were introduced in the late 1950s and do not belong to the large volume commodities, although the number of compounds is constantly increasing. The order of their general toxicity is low, the LD,, fluctuating between 3,000 and 5,000 mg/kg in rats. The damage to health in man observed so far is due to their irritating and allergic properties of several compounds to skin, respiratory airways, and conjunctiva. In rabbits and mice a carcinogenic potential has been proved, the target organs to develop malignancies being the liver, followed by urinary bladder and intestines. The number of different compounds is considerable. According to an estimate of the “Health and Safety Executive,” more than 300 reactive dyes are available on the market. In 1978 the Colour Index published a list of 697 products by different manufacturers [Docker et al., 19871. The high figure of reactive dyes being an obstacle in investigating every compound separately for its allergic potential in man, a “Health and Safety Executive” research team pooled several dye conjugates in ten groups according to color codes [ 19801. The mixtures were investigated in the radio allergo sorbent test (RAST) and by skin tests and showed every group to have sensitizing properties. However, this technique does not reveal the specific reactive dye responsible for the reaction. Thus, every new observation, built on the solid foundation of clinical medicine, has an important diagnostic and preventive impact. Interestingly enough, the worker involved will usually point out the reactive dye responsible for the reaction. One of these dyes (Procion yellow MX4R) has been withdrawn from sale following a close clinical follow-up of workers exposed. In another instance, a black dye (Levafix Schwartz E5GA) proved to be a strong allergen, while animal experi-
Address reprint requests to Dr. Leo Djerassi, Horev Medical Center, Horev Street 15, Haifa 34341, Israel. Accepted for publication July 8, 1991.
0 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
136
Djerassi
ments revealed only a slight irritating effect. The dye has been out of use in textile factories in Israel since then [Feinstein and Djerassi, 19881. Romano and associates [ 19921 bring their experience with the allergic response to another reactive dye in the present issue of this journal-an additional warning for careful handling of these compounds. REFERENCES Docker A, Wattie JM, Topping MD. Lucyznska CM, Newman Taylor AJ, Pickering CA, Thomas P, Gompertz D (1987): Clinical and immunological investigations of respiratory disease in workers using reactive dyes. Br J Ind Med 44:534-537. Feinstein 0, Djerassi L (1988): Occupational allergy to reactive dyes in a textile factory. 16th Medichem Congress, Helsinki, Sept 27-30, pp 12-21. Health and Safety Executive (1980): Safe handling of dyestuffs in colour stores. Leeds. Romano C , Sulotto F, Pavan I. Chiesa A , Scansetti G (1992): A new case of occupational asthma from reactive dyes with severe anaphylactic response to the specific challenge. Am J Ind Med 21: 209-2 I 6.
