Polyamine sensitization in offshore workers handling drilling muds

Oil‐based mud, a complex mixture containing amines in emulsifiers, is used in offshore drilling operations. It is a skin irritant that occasionally gives rise to allergic contact sensitivity. In patch testing patients with allergy to drilling mud, we have identified polyamine (diethylentriamine and triethylentetramine) sensitivity in patients. All 5 patients were also allergic to emulsifiers. These emulsifiers are cross‐linked fatty acid amido‐amines, in which unreacted aimine groups are thought to cross‐sensitized with these constitutent polyamines. Cross‐reactivity between ethylenediamine, diethylenetetramine and triethylenertetramine polyamines. Cross‐reactivity between ethulenediamine, diethyllenetetramine and triethylenetetramine was found in 9 subjects.