Phototypesetting paper as a cause of allergic contact dermatitis in newspaper production workers.

Tertiary butyl catechol (TBC), an antioxidant in phototypesetting paper, caused allergic contact dermatitis in several newspaper production workers. Five of eight tested workers had strong positive tests to the paper and to 0.1 percent TBC. Only one had subsequent hypopigmentation. The newspaper agency where they work now uses a product which contains no TBC. Sensitized workers have remained free of dermatitis unless exposed to advertising copy from outside sources.