Posted By Paul Leadbetter Paul It is difficult to believe that something as innocuous as calcium sulphate (the active ingredient in Plaster of Paris) can cause anaphylactic shock! Are you sure that there this is the cause of the problem? Regards Paul Leadbetter

Posted By Robert K Lewis I would be tempted to look to the manufacturer of what will be a medical grade version of this product. Have there been some additives to either retard, alter structure or otherwise placed in the product? The reaction of this product is slightly acidic and thus itcan cause acute, and also chronic, type inflammatory responses but something must be crossing the skin/fat barriers to enter the bloodstream in order to produce the described symptoms. This is likely to be an organic based additive. Bob

Posted By Roger K. Bentley Could there be another possible explanation? Some 'plaster' casts are made of resins and contain isocyanates, though to reduce the chance of sensitisation they are partially reacted before supply. Nevertheless, I have encountered hospital staff who have developed occupational asthma as a result of working in fracture clinics.