CONTACT ALLERGY IN METAL WORKERS - A ONE-YEAR ANALYSIS BASED ON DATA COLLECTED BY THE INFORMATION NETWORK OF DERMATOLOGICAL CLINICS (IVDK) IN GERMANY

In 1990 to March 1991, 424 patients had been patch tested with one or two test series containing additives (mainly biocides) of industrial f luids in eight participating dermatologic centers of the IVDK project. Allergic reactions were uncommon compared to questionable or irritant reactions. 2-Bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, p-aminoazobenzene, and so diumthiosulfate-aurate were found to be the most common allergens. The relevance of many positive reactions to cadmium chloride (14 of 286) is unclear. Additionally results obtained with selected allergens of t he standard series are presented. Contact sensitization to metal salts (nickel, chromate, cobalt) is observed more frequently in this group than in the general (male) population. Analysis of anamnestic data rev eals a relatively high proportion of male patients (76.3%) and of thos e whose dermatitis had been considered to be occupationally related (3 9%). Other demographic characteristics did not differ significantly fr om the average.