Airborne contact dermatitis in gaitas (flageolets) constructors after exposure to sawdust of caviuna.

Exotic wood species are used in the manufacture of furniture, musical instruments, tool handles, and other wooden items. Exposure to sawdust of the wood can produce dermatitis on exposed areas in woodworkers. We studied 7 patients, gaitas constructors who used caviuna wood to make their instruments. They developed dermatitis on exposed areas hours after they had begun to work with caviuna. We performed patch tests using the European standard series, caviuna sawdust sample, and a series of dalbergiones. 15 controls were performed. Two caviuna samples provided by a patient were analysed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Patch test with caviuna sawdust yielded positive reactions in all patients. 5 of the 7 sufferers reacted strongly to obtusaquinine and (R)-4-methoxydalbergione deriving from Dalbergia retusa, but also to sensitizers present in other rosewoods. Patch tests with R-3,4-dimethoxydalbergione deriving from Machaerium scleroxylum remained negative in the patients, as well as in control subjects. The TLC analysis of the samples showed that the woods could have been M. scleroxylum, D. cearensis or D. frustescens, but not D. retusa. In our patients, airborne contact dermatitis was caused by exposure to caviuna sawdust. The patients must have been in contact with different Dalbergia species and especially with D. retusa.