Tricresyl phosphate in polyvinylchloride gloves: a new allergen

A 58 year old hospital cleaner presents a severe eczema after the use of PVC made gloves. Patch tests were positive to pieces of gloves, tricresyl phosphate, thiuram mix ant stearyl alcohol. Gloves were solvent extracted and analysed, and tricresyl phosphate presence was confirmed. Tricresyl phosphate is known to be a degradation product of tricresyl phosphite whiwh is a component of the gloves. This is the first reported case of allegic contact dermatitis caused by tricresyl phosphate in gloves.