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. 2021 Nov-Dec;32(6):381-387.
doi: 10.1097/DER.0000000000000552.

Contact Dermatitis in Construction Workers in Northeastern Italian Patch Test Database Between 1996 and 2016

Lucia Radillo  1 , Francesca Riosa  1 , Marcella Mauro  1 , Anna Belloni Fortina  2 , Maria Teresa Corradin  3 , Francesca Larese Filon  1
Affiliations
Free article

Contact Dermatitis in Construction Workers in Northeastern Italian Patch Test Database Between 1996 and 2016

Lucia Radillo et al. Dermatitis. 2021 Nov-Dec.
Free article

Abstract

Background: Contact dermatitis in construction workers (CWs) is frequent due to the widespread exposure to sensitizing substances and irritating agents and the wet and cold working conditions.

Objective: Our objectives were to evaluate contact dermatitis characteristics among CWs who underwent patch test in northeastern Italy and to identify related allergens.

Methods: Seven hundred ninety-five CWs were studied and their data were compared to 2.099 male white-collar workers. The associations between patch test results and occupations were assessed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Incidence data were calculated from 1996 to 2016.

Results: CWs with confirmed occupational dermatitis presented an increased risk to be sensitized to potassium dichromate [OR 3.1 (95%IC 2.0-4.8)], to thiurams [OR 8 .6 (95%IC 4.0-18.4)], and to epoxy resins [OR 12.7 (95%IC 6.1-26.4)]. Sensitization to chromate decreased significantly after 2004, following EU regulation of chromate content in concrete, while sensitization to epoxy resins and thiurams increased. The overall incidence of occupational contact dermatitis in CWs decreased significantly.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated the effectiveness of EU regulations in reducing chromate sensitization in CWs and the overall incidence of occupational contact dermatitis. However, sensitization to other haptens is increasing, though improvement of protective measures is compulsory.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to declare.

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