p-Tert-Butylphenol - UNEP Chemicals

OECD SIDS P-TERT-BUTYLPHENOL
butylphenol contact ceased. The border zone of the spots was
hyperpigmented. Some inflammatory erythema usually occurred prior to
the leucoderma. No specific sensitization was found, but 10 % p-tbutylphenol
resin in acetone caused a crescendo-typ reaction until 72 h
after the epicutane test (no further data available). Neither struma nor
hepatosis was observed. (Germany, 1975)
Remarks:
Reference: Wozniak and Harmm: 1977
(i)
Results: In a large automobile factory, the employees applied the glue liberally on a
paintbrush without wearing gloves. They soon noticed that the areas of skin
on their hands and fingers which were contaminated by the glue became red
and felt sore with burning sensation, but there was no frank dermatitis.
Remarks: Neoprene-based adhesives were used as glues in a large automobile factory
in Britain, also about 1956. They were used in the manufacture of car seats
and for the linings of the roof and sides of the car interiors. They
incorporated a high content of a p-t-butylphenol formaldehyde resin, which
sometimes formed nearly 50 % of the product.
Reference: Calnan and Cooke: 1974
(j)
Results: Progressive vitiligo-like leukoderma observed in two patients, who were
occupationally exposed to p-t-butylphenol, was examined ultrastructurally.
In amelanotic areas of skin, melanocytes and melanosomes were almost
lacked completely and few remaining melanocytes contained small, round
and granular melanosomes. In hypomelanotic areas, some melanosomes
appeared to be damaged and contained few melanosomes in various stages
of development. Intraepidermal lymphocytes were frequently found.
Increased cellularity of the dermis, melanophages containing melanosomal
complexes were also present; no abnormality was found in the normally
pigmented skin of the patients when compared to biopsies from controls.
Remarks:
Reference: Bleehen and Sharquie: 1981
(k)
Results: Electron microscopic investigations of biopsies of depigmented skin areas
from five patients exposed to p-t-butylphenol (no further data available)
revealed a lack of melanocytes in 4 of 5 biopsies. In the biopsy of the 5th
patient, melanocytes could be found, but with difficulty (these cells showed
swollen mitochondria, many vacuoles and only premelanosomes with an
abacus type of pigment distribution instead of the solid pigment of mature
melanosomes). There were no important deviations in the keratinocytes
surrounding these defective melanocytes. In the border zone and in normal
areas, no deviations from normal were observed. (The Netherlands, not
dated).
Remarks:
Reference: Malten et al.: 1971
6. REFERENCES
BASF AG, Abt. Toxikologie, unpublished study, (XXI 109), 09 Aug 1971
Biagi, G.L. et al., J. Med. Chem. 18, 868 (1975)
UNEP Publications 127