Public health, allergic contact dermatitis

More information is available on the public health impact of occupational contact dermatitis. Specific national occupational disease and illness data are available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which conducts annual surveys of approximately 180,000 employers selected to represent all private industries in the United States.68 All occupational skin diseases or disorders, including allergic contact dermatitis, are tabulated in this survey. BLS data show that occupational skin diseases accounted for a consistent 30 to 45% of all cases of occupational illnesses from the 1970s through the mid-1980s, and in recent years accounted for 15% of all occupational illness.68 The decline in this proportion may be partially related to an increase seen in disorders associated with repeated trauma. 

National Toxicology Program (1999) The murine local lymph node assay A test method for assessing the allergic contact dermatitis potential of chemicals/compounds. National Institutes of Health Publication 99 1494. Research Triangle Park, NC... 

Since 1973, dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) has been banned in the U.S. for all except emergency public health measures. Allergic contact dermatitis due to DDT has not been convincingly reported [58-61]. Positive patch-test reactions to 3% DDT were reported in cotton workers with dermatitis of exposed areas. No positive patch-test reactions to 1% DDT were obtained among 665 routine eczematous patients patch-tested by the International Contact Dermatitis Research Group (ICDRG) [10]. 

Estlander T, Jolanki R, Kanerva L (1997b) Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from 2,3-epoxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (EPTMAC) and Kathon LX in a starch modification factory. Contact Dermatitis 36 191-194 Estlander T, Kanerva L, Tupasela O, Jolanki R (1998) Occupational contact urticaria and type I sensitization caused by gerbera. Contact Dermatitis 38 118-120 Etkind PH, ODell TM, Canada AT, Shama SK, Finn AM, Tuthill R (1982) The gypsy moth caterpillar a significant new occupational and public health problem. J Occup Med 24 659-662 Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (1996) Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki 1990-1996... 

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