Occupational irritant contact dermatitis

Seidenari S (1996) Skin sensitivity, interindividual factors atopy. In van der Valk PGM, Maibach HI (eds) The irritant contact dermatitis syndrome. CRC, New York, pp 267-277 Singgih SI, Lantingha H, Nater JP, Woest TE, Kruyt-Gaspersz JA (1986) Occupational hand dermatoses in hospital cleaning personnel. Contact Dermatitis 14 14-19 Skogstad M, Levy F (1994) Occupational irritant contact dermatitis and fungal infection in construction workers. Contact Dermatitis 31 28-30... 

The irritancy of amino plastic is mainly due to formaldehyde, which can be released from plastics. Nowadays, resins used in textiles release lower levels of free formaldehyde than previously (Belsito 1993). Occupational irritant contact dermatitis from fiber board containing urea-formaldehyde resin has been reported (Vale and Rycroft 1988). Dust from urea-formaldehyde insulating foam has caused airborne irritancy (Dooms-Goossens et al. 1986). 

Skogstad M, Levy F (1994) Occupational irritant contact dermatitis and fungal infection in construction workers. Contact Dermatitis 31 28-30... 

Vale PT, Rycroft RJG (1988) Occupational irritant contact dermatitis from fibreboard containing urea formaldehyde resin. Contact Dermatitis 19 62... 

A detailed review is presented of the literature on cutaneous reactions to rubber, the aspects covered including latex allergy, irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis. The adverse cutaneous reactions to rubber occurring following industrial and occupational or consumer exposure to rubber chemicals or products or to natural rubber latex proteins are discussed. 261 refs. 

Andersen KE, Petri M. 1982. Occupational irritant contact folliculitis associated with triphenyl tin fluoride (TPTF) exposure. Contact Dermatitis 8 173-177. 

In a study of 1,752 patients considered to have occupational dermatoses, contact dermatitis was the main diagnosis in 1,496 patients (92% women, 83% men). The allergic type, as opposed to the irritant type, was more prevalent in men (73%) than in women (51%). Positive patch tests to chromium (not otherwise specified) occurred in 8% of the women and 29% of the men. Among 280 chromium-sensitized men, 50% were employed in building and concrete work, 17% in metal work, and 12% in tanneries. In the 42 chromium-sensitized women, 20% were in cement work, 19% in metal work, 28% in cleaning, and 15% in laboratory work (Fregert 1975). 

Unspecific irritations of skin and mucosa membrane structures can be caused by solvents. Various solvents are significant occupational irritants, e.g., solvents which cause irritant contact dermatitis."" Intact skin structures can be destroyed by solvents which dissolve grease and fat. Typically, the dermatitis is characterized by dryness, scaling and fissuring and is usually located on the hands. It is often caused by handling solvent-contaminated products or by cleaning procedures." ""... 

While many solids don t pose a significant hazard if in brief contact with the skin, experience has shown that continued exposure to some solid chemicals poses a risk of irritation, contact dermatitis, or other detrimental corrosive effects. These are more likely to be encountered in advanced labs. Some examples are methyl ethyl ketone, formaldehyde, NaOH pellets, elemental Na, and phenol. (Contact dermatitis is one of the 10 leading occupational diseases in the United States.)... 

Funke U, Diepgen TL, Fartasch M (1995) Identification of high-risk groups for irritant contact dermatitis by occupational physicians. In Eisner P, Maibach HI (eds) Irritant dermatitis new clinical and experimental aspects. Karger, Basel, pp 64-72... 

Rycroft RJG, Smith WDL (1980) Low humidity occupational dermatoses. Contact Dermatitis 6 488-492 Schurer NY, Plewig G, Elias PM (1991) Stratum corneum lipid function. Dermatologica 183 77-94 Seidenari S (1996) Skin sensitivity, inter-individual factors atopy. In Valk P, Maibach HI (eds) The irritant contact dermatitis syndrome. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 267-277 Shmunes E (1990) Solvents and plasticizers. In Adams RM (ed) Occupational skin diseases. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 439-461... 

Aoki T, Kageyama R (1989) Three cases of dry cleaning dermatitis. Nippon Hifuka Gakkai Zasshi 9 1035-1038 Ashworth J, Rycroft RJG, Waddy RS (1993) Irritant contact dermatitis in warehouse employees. Occup Med 43 32-34... 

Goldner R (1994) Work-related irritant contact dermatitis. Occup Med 9 37-44... 

Argyris TS (1985) Promotion of epidermal carcinogenesis by repeated damage to mouse skin. Am J Ind Med 8 329-337 Baran R, Tosti A (1993) Occupational acro-osteolysis in a guitar player. Acta Derm Venereol 73 64-65 Bruynzeel DP, de Boer EM (1996) Compromised skin. In van der Valk P, Maibach HI (eds) The irritant contact dermatitis syndrome. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 283-287 Burton JL (1992) Eczema, lichenification, prurigo and erythroderma. In Champion RH, Burton, JL, Ebling FJG (eds) Textbook of dermatology. Blackwell Scientific Publications, London, pp 537-588... 

Procedures useful in the diagnosis of irritant occupational airborne contact dermatitis. Some procedures are available that permit one to evaluate the potential accountability of some offending agents for provoking airborne irritancy of the skin. This approach cannot be achieved without the collaboration of occupational physicians and/or safety officers. It also requires laboratory equipment and dermatological expertise in the field. 

Kanerva L, Estlander T, Jolanki R, LahteenmaJd MT, Keskinen H (1991) Occupational urticaria from welding polyurethane. J Am Acad Dermatol 24 825-826 Koh D, Aw TC, Foulds IS (1992) Fiberglass dermatitis from printed circuit boards. Am J Ind Med 21 193-198 Lachapelle JM (1986) Industrial airborne irritant or allergic contact dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 14 137-145 Lachapelle JM (1987) Industrial airborne irritant contact dermatitis due to dust particles. Boll Dermatol Allergol Profess 2 83-... 

It must be pointed out that the vast majority of occupational dermatoses is represented by contact dermatitis [irritant contact dermatitis (ICD), allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated reactions] rarely, infectious dermatitis or other forms of dermatitis are encountered. 

Most reports indicate that irritant contact dermatitis tends to have a poorer prognosis than allergic contact dermatitis. Some occupational irritants - for example. 

Workers who continued with exposure to occupational irritants tend to have a poorer prognosis than those who cease exposure. For example, Chia et al. reported that about 60% of patients with occupational irritant dermatitis from solvents had persistent dermatitis when they continued to work with the solvents (Chia and Goh 1991). Some occupational irritants appear to cause less chronicity, e.g. irritant contact dermatitis from acids/alkali and cement appear to clear when proper preventive measures are introduced (Chia and Goh 1991). The report from Singapore showed that all workers with irritant contact dermatitis from cement had complete clearance of their dermatitis despite continuing to work with the irritant. Similarly, in Denmark, occupational irritant dermatitis from cement cleared in 80% of their workers despite the fact that they continued working at the same job (Avnstorp 1989). 

In Singapore, the prognosis of occupational allergic and irritant contact dermatitis for patients who ceased to be exposed was better then those who continued exposure to the contactants. The overall clearance rates for patients who ceased exposure and continued exposure were 73% and 69%, respectively. The clearance rates for allergic contact dermatitis were 71% (ceased exposure) and 74% (continued exposure), respectively, and for irritant contact dermatitis were 74% and 68%, respectively (Chia and Goh 1991). 

The causes of chronicity from occupational contact dermatitis are usually multifactorial. Most studies indicated that allergic contact dermatitis is less likely to lead to chronicity than irritant contact dermatitis. The risk factor for chronicity of dermatitis in patients with contact dermatitis appears to be determined by the type or causes of contact dermatitis, the presence of atopy, and job change. The prognosis of contact dermatitis appears to be better in recent years. This improvement could be due to better understanding of the nature and causes of occupational contact dermatitis, availability of better diagnostic procedures and better health education, and preventive measures against occupational contact dermatitis. 

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