Dermatitis, occupational causes

The effects of chromium compounds have been studied since World War II. While chromic acid mist was known to produce septal perforations in the nose, chrome holes of the skin, and chronic dermatitis, occupationally caused lung malignancies from certain chromate compounds were a newly discovered epidemiological finding. Exposure to vinyl chloride produced angiosarcoma (cancer of the liver) in workers exposed to the chemical. This wasn t discovered until an epidemiological survey revealed workers in plants that had vinyl chloride in the process had abnormally high incidences of liver cancer. 

Colophony (rosin) may be present as an emulsifier (Tall oil) in some oils and may cause sensitisation (Matos et al. 1988). Sensitisation occurred in 9.6% of males compared with 5.7% of controls (P = 0.046) (Grattan et al. 1989). It may also be found as soap water in some oils (Fregert 1979). Non-occupational causes of colophony exposure may also contribute to the onset of dermatitis, as it is not unusual for individuals to wrap fissured fingers with colophony-containing plasters. 

Satulsky EM, Wirts CA (1943) Dermatitis venenata caused by the manzanillo tree. Arch Dermatol Syphilol 47 797-798 Oliwiecki S, Beck MH, Hausen BM (1992) Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from caffeates in poplar bud resin in a tree surgeon. Contact Dermatitis 27 127-128 Knight TE, Boll P, Epstein WL, Prasad AK (1996) Resorcinols and catechols a clinical study of cross sensitivity. Am J Contact Dermat 7 138-145... 

Occupational dermatitis may cause sick leave. Data from the branch organisation in the Netherlands, which monitors the administration of sick leave, showed that, for approximately 23,000 registered hairdressers, the number of sick-leave days due to hairdresser s eczema increased from 21,050 in 1986 to... 

Thimerosal is used as a preservative agent, especially in contact lenses fluids, eyedrops and vaccines. It was reported as an occupational cause of contact dermatitis in an ophtalmological assistant and in veterinarians. It is an indirect indicator of sensitivity to piroxicam, through its thiosalicylic moiety. 

Prolonged contact with certain chromium compounds may produce allergic reactions and dermatitis in some individuals (114). The initial response is usually caused by exposure to Cr(VI) compounds, but once the allergy is estabUshed, it is extended to the trivalent compounds (111,115). There is also limited evidence of possible chromium associated occupational asthma, but there is insufficient data to estimate a dose for assumed chromium-induced asthma. Reference 116 provides a summary and discussion of chromium hypersensitivity. 

Platinum is used as a catalyst for nitric and sulphuric acid production, in petroleum refining and in catalytic mufflers to control air pollution. Platinum salts can cause respiratory complaints, asthma, and platinosis , an allergic response. Allergic dermatitis may also result from exposure to soluble platinum salts and once subjects have been sensitized it generally precludes continued occupational exposure at any level. The 8 hr TWA OEL for platinum metal is 5 mg/m but for soluble platinum salts it is only 0.002 mg/m. Handling precautions must include containment where possible, ventilation, personal protection, and the screening out of individuals who have become sensitized. 

Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a severe erythema, was seen in five people occupationally exposed to trichloroethylene for 2-5 weeks at levels ranging from 19 to 164 ppm (Phoon et al. 1984). The study authors suggested that the erythema was caused by a hypersensitivity reaction to trichloroethylene. An exfoliative dermatitis (Goh and Ng 1988) and scleroderma (Czirjak et al. 1993), also thought to have an immune component, have been reported in persons occupationally exposed to trichloroethylene. 

Dermal exposure to chemicals is one of the leading causes of job-related illness as reported by the National Institutes for Occupational Safety and Health. As jet fuel is the primary occupational exposure of military and aviation industry personnel, there is elevated concern regarding JP-8 dermal exposures in the workplace. Several anecdotal reports confirm that persons exposed to jet fuel experience itching or burning skin, skin redness or rash, skin dryness or dermatitis, skin lesions or weeping, or skin sensitization [32,33,34], yet little is known regarding possible systemic effects following dermal exposure. 

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... 

Burnett, C.A., et al., Occupational dermatitis causing days away from work in US private industry. Amer. J. Industr. Med., 34, 568, 1988. 

Burnett CA, Lushniak BD, McCarthy W, et al Occupational dermatitis causing days away from work in U.S. private industry, 1993. Am J Ind Med 3 -.568-573, 1998... 

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). 

Formaldehyde is one of the most common causes of occupational skin disease the major effects of formaldehyde on the skin are irritant dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis. Irritant dermatitis results from direct injury to the skin and is characterized by redness and thickening of the affected areas. In more severe cases there may be blistering, scaling, and the formation of fissures. 

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

Reportedly, headache, nausea, and confusion may occur after inhalation of vapor. Occupational poisoning from vapor exposure is rare. Naphthalene on the skin may cause hypersensitivity dermatitis. ... 

Kanerva L, Laine R, Jolanki R, et al Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by nitroglycerin. Contact Derm 24 356-362, 1991... 

Nakayama H, ImaiT Occupational Contact Uti-caria, Contact Dermatitis and Asthma Caused by Rhodium Hypersensitivity. 6th International Symposium on Contact Dermatitis and Joint Meeting between ICDRG and JCDRG, Tokyo, 21 May 1982... 

Svensson. Olive oil as a cause of contact allergy in patients with venous eczema, and occupationally. Contact Dermatitis 1990 23(2) 73-76. 

Kanerx a. L., Lauerma, A., Estlander, T., Alanko, K., Henriks-Eckcrman, M.-L. Jolanki, R. (1996) Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by photobonded sculptured nails and a review of (meth) acrylates in nail cosmetics. Am. J. contact Derm., 7, 109-115... 

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by photobonded sculptured nails and... 

Exposure of the skin to C5-C8 liquids causes dermatitis. This is the most common toxicological occupational problem associated with the use of hydrocarbon liquids in the workplace, and is a consequence of the dissolution of the fat portions of the skin. In addition to becoming inflamed, the skin becomes dry and scaly. 

Toxicity Any acute exposure to vapors of 1,1,1-trichloroethane leads to irritation of the nose, throat, and eyes, and results in headaches. Exposure to high concentrations or vapors of 1,1,1-trichloroethane is known to cause damage to the CNS, leading to behavioral disorders, dizzy spells, sleepiness, and, in some cases, coma reversible injuries to the liver and kidneys also have been observed. Overexposure of 1,1,1-trichloroethane in occupational/work environments causes headache, CNS depression, irritation to eyes, dermatitis, and cardiac arrhythmias. Effects of repeated or long-term exposure to the solvent causes visual problems, loss of coordination, reduction of the tactile sensitivity of the skin, trembling, giddiness, anxiety, and slowing of the pulse rate. 

All isocyanates are known to cause pulmonary toxicity. Isocyanates are the most common causes of occupational asthma and have led to the development of immediate or late asthma among workers. Isocyanates have caused bronchitis, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, chronic obstructive lung disease, contact sensitivity, dermatitis, allergic alveolitis, and immunologic hemorrhagic pneumonitis.29... 

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