Allergic contact dermatitis, occupational exposures causing

The most frequent causes of allergic contact dermatitis in the United States include plants (poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac), metallic salts, organic dyes, plastic resins, rubber additives, and germicides.74 The most common skin patch test allergens found to be positive in patients along with potential sources of exposure are shown in Table 32.1.75 In patients with occupational contact dermatitis who were skin patch tested, the common allergens included carba mix, thiuram mix, formaldehyde, epoxy resin, and nickel.76... 

Toxicology. Cobalt causes skin irritation, allergic contact dermatitis, and occupational asthma interstitial pulmonary fibrosis is associated with exposure to hard metal dust (tungsten and cobalt). 

MEKP has caused irritant dermatitis with direct contact only rarely has it caused allergic contact dermatitis from occupational exposure. ... 

Organomercurials have been a common cause of allergic contact dermatitis or rash (22) and even exfoliative dermatitis has been described (23). Some reagents for intra-cutaneous testing (tuberculin, etc.) may contain thiomersal, which can cause sensitization and thus elicit false-positive delayed-type skin reactions. Mercury compounds inhibit most lymphocyte functions (SEDA-21, 240). An early indicator of an immunological response to mercury exposure, for example in occupational medicine, appears to be a change in the lymphocyte count with a differential increase in T helper cells and a rise in the T helper/T suppressor ratio (24). 

Contact dermatitis can occur from exposure to cement and has been considered an occupational hazard for construction workers (Turk and Rietschel 1993 Roto et al. 1996 Zachariae et al. 1996). The problem develops because chromium(VI)-con-taining residues from blast furnaces are incorporated into cement. Some countries add ferrous sulfate to cement to reduce the amount of soluble hexavalent chromate in the product (Turk and Rietschel 1993 Roto etal. 1996 Zachariae etal. 1996). In the UK, chromium and chromates accounted for 8.1% of the allergic contact dermatitis cases (Meyer et al. 2000). In Finland, chromium causes 5.6% of ACD, with tanners, cast concrete workers, leader goods workers, and metal plating/coating workers being at greatest risk (Kanerva et al. 2000). In Denmark, the chromium(VI) content of 35% of... 

There is no established evidence (epidemiological or experimental) for carcinogenicity caused by exposure to Cr(III) or Cr(0) compounds (113, 117). However, allergic contact dermatitis due to occupational exposure to Cr(lll) (primarily in the leather tanning industry) is relatively common (144—146). The safety of oral intake of Cr(III) in food supplements has also been questioned (Section IV.D) (5). A concern about the safety of the use of Cr(0) in stainless steel body implants (e.g., artificial joints or fracture fixation plates) was raised following at least one reported case of bone cancer caused by corrosion of the implant (147). In vitro studies have shown that the corrosion of Cr alloys in human semm leads to Cr(III) binding to serum proteins (148). Such corrosion can also release another possible carcinogen, Ni(II) (149). This problem should be overcome by the use of Ti alloys (free of Cr or Ni), which were introduced as an alternative 10-15 years ago (150). 

Kanerva L, Bjorkner B, Estlander T, et al. (1996) Plastic materials occupational exposure, skin irritancy and its prevention. In van der Valk PGM, Maibach HI (eds) The irritant contact dermatitis syndrome. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 127-55 Kanerva L, Lauerma A, Estlander T, et al. (1996b) Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by photobonded sculptured nails and a review of (meth)acrylates in nail cosmetics. Am J Contact Dermat 7 109... 

Kanerva L, Tarvainen K, Pinola A, Granlund H, Estlander T, Jolanki R, Forstrom L (1994b) A single accidental exposure may result in chemical burn, primary sensitization and allergic contact dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 31 229-235 Kanerva L, Estlander T, Jolanki R, Tarvainen K (1995) Occupational allergic contact dermatitis and contact urticaria caused by polyfimctional aziridine hardener. Contact Dermatitis... 

Kanerva L, Estlander T, Jolanki R, Tarvainen K (1993a) Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by exposure to acrylates during work with dental prostheses. Contact Dermatitis 28 268-275... 

Kanerva L, Estlander T, Jolanki R (1994) Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by thiourea compounds. Contact Dermatitis 31 242-248 Kiec-Swierczynska M (1995) Occupational sensitivity to rubber. Contact Dermatitis 32 171-172 Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Eisner P (1995) Contact dermatitis due to occupational dibutylthiourea exposure a case of phonecard dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 32 308-309... 

Povidone-iodine is an iodophor. A 10% povidone-iodine solution contains 1% available iodine, but free iodine is at a concentration of 0.001%. Occupational exposure can cause irritant rather than allergic contact dermatitis in healthcare workers. 

Daecke C, Schaller J, Goos M (1994) Acrylates as potent allergens in occupational and domestic exposures. Contact Dermatitis 30 190-191 (Not occupational) Kanerva L, Estlander T, Jolanki R, Tarvainen K (1993) Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by exposure to acrylates during work with dental prostheses. Contact Dermatitis 28 268-275 Rustemeyer T, Frosch PJ (1996) Occupational skin diseases in dental laboratory technicians. (I). Clinical picture and causative factors. Contact Dermatitis 34 125-133... 

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