title: Occupational Contact Dermatitis: Workers' Compensation Patch Test Results of Portland, Oregon, 2005-2014.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Workers are exposed to potential irritants and allergens with constant introduction of new industrial chemicals in the workplace.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Characterize the final diagnoses, demographics, occupations, exposures, clinical presentations, patch test results, dermatologic histories, and risk factors of workers evaluated for suspected work-related allergic contact dermatitis (ACD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review of 310 workers' compensation independent medical examinations evaluated for suspected work-related ACD was performed. Workers were seen in a community dermatology clinic in Portland, Oregon, from 2005 to 2014. Evaluation included history, physical examination, patch testing, and further diagnostic workup when indicated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hand dermatitis was the most common presentation (n = 148, 47.7%). Prevalent occupations included health care workers (n = 51, 16.5%), custodial staff (n = 41, 13.2%), and machinists (n = 36, 11.6%). Allergic contact dermatitis (47.5%) was more common than irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) (38.9%) in those diagnosed as having occupational skin disease (n = 185). The highest-frequency work-related allergens were thiuram mix (21 of 88, 23.9%), carba mix (20 of 88, 22.7%), potassium dichromate (9 of 88, 10.2%), and epoxy resin (9 of 88, 10.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Allergic contact dermatitis and ICD are common occupational skin disorders. In this population of workers' compensation referrals, ACD was more common, with 73.3% of those cases work related, compared with 86.7% of ICD. Blue collar work and wet work were risk factors for the development of ACD and ICD.
authors.affiliation: From the University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT.
authors.forename: Garrett
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coman
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zinsmeister
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Norris
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D001336:Automobiles; D060389:Construction Industry; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic 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; D004050:Ditiocarb / Q000633:toxicity; D004853:Epoxy Resins / Q000633:toxicity; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services; D006146:Guanidines / Q000633:toxicity; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019981:Health Care Sector; D006796:Household Work; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D066192:Manufacturing Industry; D009922:Oregon / Q000453:epidemiology; D010328:Patch Tests; D011192:Potassium Dichromate / Q000633:toxicity; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013893:Thiram / Q000633:toxicity; D014942:Workers' Compensation
chemical_list: D004853:Epoxy Resins; D006146:Guanidines; D013893:Thiram; C057051:carbamix; D004050:Ditiocarb; D011192:Potassium Dichromate