Occupational irritants

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

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." ""... 

A Bauer, J Bong, P J Coenraads, P Eisner, J English, H C Williams, 2003 Interventions for preventing occupational irritant hand dermatitis .(protocol). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2003, Issue 3. Art. No. CD004414. DOI 10.1002/146S18S8.CD004414. 

A number of individual factors for irritant dermatitis have been identified. Although occupational, irritant hand dermatitis is more frequent in females (Meding 1990), no sex difference of irritant reactivity could be established experimentally (Hogan et al. 1990). It is... 

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... 

Interestingly, unexposed skin also displays an impaired epidermal barrier function (Agner and Serup 1989), which may indicate that even the wearing of protective (warm, wind-tight) gloves may not be able to completely abolish the effect of low humidity on the skin of the hands. As the hands may additionally be exposed to a variety of occupational irritants or to wet work, and as (sub-) clinical irritation is often known to be a multifactorial process (Malten 1981), this fairly inalterable environmental condition puts extra emphasis on the necessity of adequate skin protection, be it domestic or occupational. 

While Burrows, in 1972, reported that 79% of patients with occupational contact dermatitis fol-lowed-up over 10-13 years still require treatment for their dermatitis (Burrows 1972), a report from Singapore showed total clearance of dermatitis in 72% of their patients after a i-year follow-up. In Sydney, Rosen et al. reported that improvement of occupational contact dermatitis occurred in 74% and 68% of patients with occupational irritant and allergic contact dermatitis followed up over 2-10 years, respectively (Rosen and Freeman 1993). In the United States, Nethercott et al. reported that 63% of workers had clearance of their occupational contact dermatitis when foUowed-up over a 4-year period, and when patients with mild eczema were included, the improvement rate was 81%. In a recent report form Switzerland, where the medical records of 88 construction workers who had occupational dichromate dermatitis... 

Prognosis of Occupational Irritant Versus Allergic Contact Dermatitis... 

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

Chia et al. observed that occupational irritant dermatitis from cement and acids/alkali tends to have a relatively better prognosis than other irritants, with all workers experiencing complete clearance of their dermatitis when they ceased contact with the irritant (Chia and Goh 1991). 

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). 

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). 

Goh CL (1994) Common industrial processes and occupational irritants and allergens-an update. Ann Acad Med Singapore 23(5) 690-698... 

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... 

It is quite clear that these multiple cardiopulmonary and systemic sequellae resulting from the release of mediators and the activation of sensory nerves in the lung and heart could contribute to impaired cardiovascular and pulmonary performance from inhaled environmental and occupational irritants and antigens. 

Exposure to formic acid vapor causes irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract. The TLV/TWA occupational exposure limit is 5 ppm (40). Self-contained breathing apparatus should be used when there is a risk of exposure to high vapor concentrations. 

Magnesium vanadates, as vanadium compounds in general, are known irritants of the respiratory tract and conjunctiva. The threshold limit value (TLV) for vanadium compounds in air recommended by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health is 0.05 mg/m based on a typical 8-h workday and 40-h workweek (7,147). Chronic inhalation can lead to lung diseases such as bronchitis, bronchopneumonia, and lobar pneumonia. These dust-related effects can be avoided by use of individual respirators in areas where exposure is likely. 

Health and Safety Factors. Malononitrile is usually available as a soHdifted melt in plastic-Hned dmms. Remelting has to be done carefully because spontaneous decomposition can occur at elevated temperatures, particularly above 100°C, in the presence of impurities such as alkaHes, ammonium, and 2inc salts. Melting should be carried out by means of a water bath and only shordy before use. Occupational exposure to malononitrile mainly occurs by inhalation of vapors and absorption through the skin. Malononitrile has a recommended workplace exposure limit of 8 mg/m, an LD q (oral, rats) of 13.9 mg/kg, and is classified as slight irritant (skin irritation, rabbits). Transport classification RID/ADR 61, IMDG-Code 6.1, lATA/ICAO 6.1. 

Phenol fumes are irritating to the eyes, nose, and skin. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), exposure to phenol should be controUed so that no employees are exposed to phenol concentrations >20 mg/m, which is a time-weighted average concentration for up to a 10-h work day, 40-h work week. Phenol is very toxic to fish and has a nearly unique property of tainting the taste of fish if present in marine... 

Inhalation of crystalline or fused vitreous silica dust, usually overlong periods, causes a disabling, progressive pulmonary disease known as silicosis (84). Amorphous siUcas have not been linked to siUcosis (85), but can cause respiratory irritation. The history and poHtics of siUcosis have been reviewed (86). Standards have been set or recommended for occupational exposures (87,88) and review articles on the health effects of siUca are available (83,89). 

Exposure to tantalum metal dust may cause eye injury and mucous-membrane irritation. The threshold limit value (TLV) in air is 5 mg/m, LD q is <400 mg/kg and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) time weighted average (TWA) exposure limit is 5 mg/m (47). The immediate dangerous to life or health (IDLH) concentration is 2500 mg/m (48). Whereas some skin injuries from tantalum have been reported, systemic industrial poisoning is apparently unknown (47). 

Other toxicological effects that may be associated with exposure to benzyl chloride based on animal studies are skin sensitization and developmental embryo and/or fetal toxicity. A 1980 OSHA regulation has estabhshed a national occupational exposure limit for benzyl chloride of 5 mg/m (1 ppm). Concentrations of 160 mg/m (32 ppm) in air cause severe irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract (68). 

Power of Six Powder Paints to Cause Irritations and Allergies of the Skin INRS, Dept, of Occupational Pathology, France, May 1979. 

Like other proteins, enzymes are potential allergens. In addition, proteases may act as skin and eye irritants. However, during the production and handling of industrial enzymes, the occupational health risks entailed by these properties can be avoided by protective measures, and by the form in which... 

Formaldehyde has been rated as a possible carcinogen by the United States Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) rules and should be handled with due caution. It is also a strong lacrymator and choking respiratory irritant. It irritates the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes [76]. Since it is used for tanning leather, it is obvious that fonnaldehyde has a high potential for reactions with proteins. Formaldehyde gas is flammable and most formalin solutions contain significant amounts of methanol, which is also volatile, toxic, and flammable. 

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