Berufs-Dermatosen最新文献

100 miners have been examined for mycosis pedis. All had interdigital macerations, mainly of both feet. 57 cultures of fungi were positive. Blastomyces and especially Candida albicans were the most frequent fungi. Some remarks are made concerning individual hygiene and surface disinfection.

Clinical and epidemiological investigations on 240 bricklayers in Nigeria show an incidence of 2,3% of cement-eczema, 2,0% of wear and tear dermatosis, and 2,8% of sensitivity against chrome. None of the examined showed a concomitant reaction to cobalt chloride. The workers with longest professional contact with cement showed the highest incidence of cement-eczema, and sensitivity against chrome. Workers of the lower age group had a higher alkali neutralization power of the skin than the older workers. The same tendency was noticed in the control tests. Generally, the African skin showed a higher alkali neutralization power than the white skin. The discussion tried to expand on the possible factors which could have influenced the observed rate of sensitization in Nigeria.

Occupational materials contacted systemically, either by inhalation or ingestion, are capable of producing toxic as well as allergic skin reactions in exposed persons. Depigmentations of vitiligo type due to paratertiary butyl-phenol, various exanthems due to trichlorethylene fumes in the metal industry and due to alpha-phenylindole in the plastics industry, and the so-called vinyl chloride sickness in the PVC industry are examples of conditions with a probable toxic pathogenesis. Allergic skin conditions may occur as either immediate type (urticaria and Quincke's edema) or delayed type (endogenic contact eczema, more rarely pigmented purpuric eruptions) reactions. Relevant examples from the literature and our own case histories are briefly presented. Some types of eczema and dysidrosiform eruptions, which show an immediate type sensitization to occupational allergens of a protein nature in the skin tests, are difficult to interpret pathogenically. The prototype of such reactions is bakers' eczema with cutaneous vascular sensitization to flour. In addition, farmers' eczema can be related to an immediate type sensitivity to animal hair, resp. farm dust. Our own observations concerning such cases are briefly described.

A follow-up study was performed of the medical and social condition of 164 patients with an occupational allergic contact dermatitis. A change of work did not always lead to an improvement of the dermatitis. A number of patients improved without changing their job. It is suggested that a change of occupation can only be advised to these patients if the causal allergen can be avoided completely by doing so and only by doing so; at the same time one must reckon with other aetiologic factors and the social situation after change of work. Moreover it is pointed out that patients who changed their occupation did hardly use the possibilities, created by the Dutch law, to obtain expert advice or to be retrained for another job at the expense of the community.

An examination of detergents on the skin has to take into account the facultative sensibilisation and the wear and tear. In this connection the effect of summation between soapbody and perfume is pointed out as well as the different results of skin tests. To control the obligate effects, first of all a reliable technical reference has to be established; this is the washing activity, to which the side-effects then are related. To measure the hydratation, the resonance-frequency method of Tronnier and Wagener is used, where especially the syndets react very differently: partly similar to water and partly similar to soft soap. Further methods of examination are the measurement of the roughness and the quantitative determination of the fat of the skin. Concerning certain hand wash detergents and industrial cleaners the grade of rubbing is also of interest. Finally the relatively good compatibility of the bioactive detergents and the rinsing agents is discussed.

4 tube-bonelace-makers of a rubber tube plant suffered from an allergic contact dermatitis due to rubberdyes of azotype. The cause is a permanent contamination of the skin by coloured rubber solutions used for sticking and signing the enclosed textures of the different tubes, bags and hoses.

Primary contact sensitivty to m-phenylenediamine was noted in 8 of 182 workers handling this substance as hardener. In these patients the period between the beginning of this work and the appearance of dermatitis was shorter if they became simultaneously sensitive to epoxy resin and/or triethylenetetramine. Moreover from among 150 consecutive patients one was positive to m-phenylenediamine and negative to p-phenylenediamine. From among the selected patients positive to p-phenylenediamine more than 40 per cent were also positive to m-phenylenediamine. A large number of the latter patients were as well positive to o-phenylenediamine. No patients were found who would be positive to o-phenylenediamine and negative to m-phenylenediamine. Nearly all those positive to m- and p-phenylenediamine were also positive to the meta isomers of other aromatic amines.

The VC-disease is another example of the constant threat working people are exposed to. A resonable collaboation of all competent bodies will allow to minimize the hazards or to remove them, and thus to "humanize" the working conditions. The VC-disease should be recognized as an occupational disease, the maximal concentration of VC at the working place should be standardized. New chemical products of considerable economic importance such as VC should be examined carefully before being commercialized.