CONTACT-DERMATITIS IN ALSTROEMERIA WORKERS

Hand dermatitis is common in workers in the horticultural industry. Th is study determined the prevalence of hand dermatitis in workers of Al stroemeria cultivation, investigated how many workers had been sensiti zed by tulipalin A (the allergen in Alstroemeria) and took stock of a wide range of determinants of hand dermatitis. The 12-month period pre valence of major hand dermatitis amounted to 29.5% whereas 7.4% had mi nor dermatitis. Of these workers, 52.1% were sensitized for tulipalin A. Several personal and work-related determinants played a role in the multifactorial aetiology of hand dermatitis, Factors which showed a s ignificant relationship with major hand dermatitis were: female sex, a topic dermatitis, chapped hands and the frequency of washing hands. It may be concluded that the Alstroemeria workers are a population at ri sk of developing contact dermatitis and it might be useful to carry ou t an educational campaign to lower the high prevalence.