Systemic toxicity of paraphenylenediamine.

Sir, Paraphenylenediamine (PPD), a derivative of paranitroanaline, is commonly used in several industries like oxidizable hair dye, dyeing furs, photochemical processes and tyre vulcanization. The Þ rst documentation of systemic PPD poisoning in 1924 described the case of a hairdresser who developed toxicity from handling the dye.[1] Many reports have followed since then, mainly from developing countries. We report a series of 10 patients admitted over a period of 1 year at a tertiary care hospital in south India.