title: Nickel, cobalt and chromate sensitization and occupation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposure to nickel, cobalt and chromate are important causes of occupational contact dermatitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of nickel, cobalt and chromate allergy in a population of consecutive patients and to investigate the possible association with individual and occupational risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 14 464 patients (67.6% women and 32.4% men) with suspected allergic dermatitis underwent patch tests. The associations between patch test results and occupations were studied by multivariate logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 24.6% of the patients reacted positively to nickel sulphate, 10.2% to cobalt chloride and 8.7% to potassium dichromate. Nickel sensitization was higher in women aged 26-35 years in comparison with the youngest group (15-25 years) and the older group (> 45 years). In women, the prevalence of positive reactions to nickel was positively associated with metal and mechanical work (OR 1.54; 95%, CI 1.16-2.05). Chromate sensitization was more prevalent in building trade workers for both women (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.00-2.49) and men (OR 2.24; 95% CI 1.55-3.22). Cobalt sensitization was associated with textile and leather work in women (OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.09-2.12) and with cleaning work in men (OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.18-2.93).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed interesting associations between some occupations and nickel, chromate and cobalt allergy.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Unit of Occupational Medicine, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy. frui@units.it
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rui
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bovenzi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prodi
authors.forename: Anna Belloni
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Fortina
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peserico
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Corradin
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carrabba
authors.forename: Francesca Larese
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Filon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002840:Chromates / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D003035:Cobalt / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009532:Nickel / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D009790:Occupations; D010328:Patch Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D002840:Chromates; D003035:Cobalt; D009532:Nickel