title: Occupational contact dermatitis in blue-collar workers: results from a multicentre study from the Danish Contact Dermatitis Group (2003-2012).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blue-collar workers have a high risk of occupational contact dermatitis, but epidemiological studies are scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate allergic contact dermatitis in blue-collar workers with dermatitis registered by the Danish Contact Dermatitis Group.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of patch test data from 1471 blue-collar workers and 1471 matched controls tested between 2003 and 2012 was performed. A logistic regression was used to test for associations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The blue-collar workers often had occupational hand dermatitis (p < 0.001). Atopic dermatitis was less commonly observed among blue-collar workers (19.6%) than among controls (23.9%) (p = 0.005). Allergens with a statistically significant association with the occupational group of blue-collar workers were epoxy resins, methyldibromo glutaronitrile, 2-bromo-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol, potassium dichromate, and methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)/methylisothiazolinone (MI). The following occupations were additionally identified as risk factors for contact sensitization to MCI/MI and MI, epoxy resins, and potassium dichromate, respectively: painting, construction work, and tile setting/terrazzo work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contact allergy is a major problem among blue-collar workers. The data indicate a healthy worker effect among blue-collar workers diagnosed with dermatitis, as blue-collar workers were diagnosed significantly less often with atopic dermatitis than were controls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermato-Allergology, National Allergy Research Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, 2900, Hellerup, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jakob F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Schwensen
authors.forename: Torkil
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Menné
authors.forename: Niels K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Veien
authors.forename: Anne T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Funding
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Avnstorp
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Østerballe
authors.forename: Klaus E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Evy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paulsen
authors.forename: Charlotte G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Mørtz
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sommerlund
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Danielsen
authors.forename: Bo L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thormann
authors.forename: Ove
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.forename: Berit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vissing
authors.forename: Niels H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Jacob P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Thyssen
authors.forename: Jeanne D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Johansen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010328:Patch Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: allergic contact dermatitis; atopic dermatitis; blue-collar workers; construction workers; epidemiology; occupational; painters; patch test; terazzo; workers/tile setters