A case of occupational allergic contact dermatitis due to PVC hose.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is made by polymerizing vinyl chloride monomer and is a plastic that softens on heating. The addition of a small amount (<5%) of plasticizer produces a hard PVC, whereas the addition of 30 to 50% plasticizer results in a soft PVC. Soft PVC is used to make several products, including chemical shoes, cables, gloves, hoses, and film. The principal component of PVC hose is polyvinyl chloride (PVC), to which di(2ethylhexyl) phthalate (DOP, from its alternative chemical name, dioctyl phthalate) is added. Other components are barium-cadmium carboxylic soap, lubricant, and pigment. Despite its widespread use, reports of allergic contact dermatitis from PVC products are rare. One of the reasons for this is believed to be the difficulty in confirming a precise causative substance, which has prevented physicians from reporting cases. We encountered a case of occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by PVC hose.