title: Chromate and amine contact allergies in workers manufacturing precast concrete elements.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Five workers from a plant manufacturing concrete wall panels and beams were referred to our department because of suspected occupational dermatitis. When patch tested, 3 workers reacted to potassium dichromate. Four workers reacted to ethylenediamine dihydrochloride, without any obvious exposure. Owing to the high proportion of workers with recent-onset skin disease, an investigation of all workers at the plant was initiated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of occupational dermatitis and contact allergy in the workers at the plant.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 24 workers at the plant underwent a clinical investigation and were patch tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four cases of allergic occupational contact dermatitis and 3 cases of irritant occupational contact dermatitis were diagnosed. Contact allergy to potassium dichromate was found in 4 workers. All 4 also reacted to ethylenediamine dihydrochloride and/or amines that were present as additives in the cement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chromate contact allergy can still be found in concrete workers, despite the legislation regulating the amount of hexavalent chromium (chromate) in cement. Occupational contact allergy to amines can be found in workers exposed to cement and concrete, so amines should be tested in these workers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, 205 02, Sweden.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mowitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, 205 02, Sweden.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zimerson
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, 205 02, Sweden.
authors.forename: Inese
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hauksson
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, 205 02, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pontén
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000009:adverse effects*; 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*; D005029:Ethylenediamines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011192:Potassium Dichromate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D013548:Sweden
chemical_list: D005029:Ethylenediamines; C031234:ethylenediamine; D011192:Potassium Dichromate
keywords: allergic contact dermatitis; amines; cement; chromium; concrete; ethylenediamine; irritant contact dermatitis; occupational