Impact of an occupational allergy to oil of turpentine with reference to the reduction of earning capacity in occupational skin diseases according to BK No. 5101 [Bewertung der auswirkung einer berufsbedingten sensibilisierung durch terpentinöl im rahmen der feststellung einer minderung der erwerbstätigkeit gemäß der Nr. 5101 der anlage 1 zur Berufskrankheitenverordnung (BeKV)]

Abstract

Oil of turpentine is a complex mixture of volatile terpenes. Oxidation products of certain terpenes are relevant contact sensitizers. Before the petrochemical era, oil of turpentine was the most important solvent in handcraft and industry. Hence, many descriptions of the exposure to oil of turpentine and cases of allergic contact dermatitis are historical and do not reflect the situation in the 21st century. Beside a still comprehensible use of oil of turpentine in porcelain painting, restoration of historical objects and traditional painting only few jobs in the production of industrial, cosmetic, medical and household products containing oil of turpentine have to be considered as risky. In search for the cause of a sensitization by occupational contact, private exposure to aromatic oils containing cross-reactive terpenes has to be considered, alternatively. On the other side, in particular cases cross-sensitization to such aromatic oils might be relevant, if an occupational contact is hard to avoid. Taking into account its seldom use in the present, the impact of an allergy to oil of turpentine on the reduction of earning capacity in cases of occupational skin disease according to the German regulation for occupational diseases is classified as "low grade". © 2010 Dustri-Verlag Dr. Karl Feistle.