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1875280 
Journal Article 
Contact Dermatitis among Cashew Nut Workers 
Diogenes, MJN; De Morais, SM; Carvalho, FF 
1996 
Yes 
Contact Dermatitis
ISSN: 0105-1873
EISSN: 1600-0536 
NIOSH/00234104 
35 
2 
114-115 
The results of a survey of contact dermatitis among cashew nut workers were summarized and the sensitizing potential of cardol was established and compared to cardanol and anacardic-acid (11034778). All female workers at the Cashew Nut Exportation Company, Fortaleza, Brazil were interviewed and given dermatological examinations. Those with hand dermatitis were patch tested with a standard allergen series and an additional series consisting of 1 or 2% cardol, cardanol, o-methyl-cardanol, anacardic-acid, and hydrogenated-cardanol in petrolatum. Cardol and anacardic-acid, the components of cashew nut shell oil, were known contact sensitizers. Among the workers with hand dermatitis, erythema, edema, vesiculation, desquamation, and lichenification were the most common lesions found. One of two employees who worked with natural (unheated) cashew nuts reacted to both concentrations of cardol. Of 19 subjects who worked with heated cashew nuts, four reacted to nickel-sulfate (7786814), two to thimerosal (54648), one to bromochlorophene (15435297) and one reacted to quaternium-15 (51229788) in the standard series. None reacted to cardol. The authors conclude that this survey confirms the sensitizing power of cardol and demonstrates that a positive reaction occurs only in patients who touch natural cashew shell oil before it is heated. Heating decreases the risk of contact dermatitis, particularly irritant dermatitis, by converting anacardic-acid to nonirritant cardanol.