Allergy to tetramethylthiuram disulphide, a component of pesticides and rubber.

Since 1970 patch tests have been carried out on 39,420 consecutive patients with contact dermatitis using two rubber accelerators: dimercaptobenzothiazole (2-MBT) and tetramethylthiuram disulphide (TMTD). The second substance is also a component of pesticides. Over the years, the incidence of sensitivity to these substances was similar. But in the recent years the incidence of TMTD sensitivity began rising. This fact is explained by more frequent use of rubber gloves connected with AIDS prophylaxis. Independently of this, it was found that a part of alcoholic patients treated with disulfiram (tetraethylthiuram disulphide) showed a cross-reaction to TMTD.