Relationship of occupation to contact dermatitis: evaluation in patients tested from 1998 to 2000.
BACKGROUND
Both irritant and allergic contact dermatitis can be influenced by occupational and nonoccupational environmental exposures.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to compare the occupations and allergens of occupational contact dermatitis cases with nonoccupational contact dermatitis cases.


METHODS
Diagnostic patch testing was conducted with the 50 screening allergens of the North American Contact Dermatitis Group and occupational coding by the Surveillance Branch of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.


RESULTS
Of the 5,839 patients patch tested for contact dermatitis, 1,097 (19%) were deemed to be occupationally related. Of the occupational cases, 60% were of allergic and 32% were of irritant origin. The hands were the primary body part affected in 64% of allergic occupational cases and 80% of irritant occupational cases. Epoxy resin was the only allergen tested that was associated more with an occupational exposure than nonoccupational exposure. The allergens encountered most frequently in the occupational cases were carba mix, thiuram mix, epoxy resin, formaldehyde, and nickel. The medical field is overrepresented in the data compared with other occupations.


CONCLUSIONS
Occupational contact dermatitis frequently was found to be multifactorial and associated with several specific allergens and occupations.
Rietschel
Robert L
RL
Department of Dermatology, Ochner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA 70121, USA.
Mathias
C G Toby
CG
Fowler
Joseph F
JF
Pratt
Melanie
M
Taylor
James S
JS
Sherertz
Elizabeth F
EF
Marks
James G
JG
Belsito
Donald V
DV
Storrs
Frances J
FJ
Maibach
Howard I
HI
Fransway
Anthony F
AF
Deleo
Vincent A
VA
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D017453:Dermatitis, Irritant / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009790:Occupations; D010328:Patch Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000485:Allergens