OCCUPATIONAL IRRITANT CONTACT-DERMATITIS AND FUNGAL INFECTION IN CONSTRUCTION WORKERS

We have examined 6 construction workers who developed chronic skin dis eases on their hands over a period of 15 years (1970-1985). 4 develope d a Trichophyton rubrum infection, and the other 2 an irritant contact dermatitis. All of them carried out jobs which caused traumatization of the skin, due to the presence of ethylene glycol and mineral oils d uring operation of pneumatic hammers in winter. They also suffered oth er types of skin trauma during their work. Construction workers may be at risk of developing an occupational skin disease involving fungal i nfection.