Contact dermatitis to anaerobic sealants.

High-performance polymerizable anaerobic sealants originated in 1953 and are used to lock metal parts together chemically. A case of hand contact dermatitis from Loctite RC/601, 242, and 504 is reported in a 60-year-old machine assembler. This diagnosis was documented by positive patch tests of the product and of three of the components: polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, hydroxypropyl, and hydroxyethyl methacrylate. This is the third report of contact dermatitis caused by these sealants in the United States, is the second in the world on hydroxypropyl methacrylate, and is another example of the wide environmental use of potentially sensitizing acrylic resins.