Contact Allergy to Aziridine Paint Hardener

A painter experienced an extensive dermatitis when exposed to a paint primer (undercoating) used to protect wood siding. The primer was an acrylic emulsion with a polyfunctional aziridine added as a self-curing cross-linker or hardener. The polyfunctional aziridine cross-linker was made by reacting propyleneimine with a polyfunctional acrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA). Our patient reacted to the cross-linker and also reacted to TMPTA, which is present in excess in the cross-linker. He also cross-reacted to pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA). Both TMPTA and PETA can be used in the production of aziridine hardeners and both are well known as sensitizers in radiation-dried acrylic printing inks and coatings.