What are some typical workplace irritants and allergens?
- Irritants: Water, soaps and detergents, solvents, particulate dusts, food products, fiberglass, plastics, resins, oils, greases, agricultural chemicals, and metals. Of note, irritating compounds can be allergenic, and allergenic compounds can be irritating.
- Allergens: Metals (e.g., nickel), germicides (e.g., formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde), plants (e.g., poison ivy), rubber additives (e.g., thiurams), organic dyes (e.g., para-phenylenediamine in hair dye), plastic resins (e.g., acrylics and epoxies), and first-aid medications containing neomycin. Table 65-1 summarizes possible contactants associated with common occupations.
Elsner P: Occupational dermatoses. In Burgdorf WH, Plewig G, editors: Braun-Falco’s dermatology, ed 3, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2009, Springer, pp 402–408. | Table 65-1. Selected Occupations and Their Possible Contactants | | | OCCUPATIONS | | IRRITANTS | | ALLERGENS | | | Construction workers | | Cleansers, solvents, cement, dirt | | Chromium (cement, leather boots), rubber chemicals (gloves), epoxy resin (adhesives) | | | Hairdressers | | Shampoo, water, permanent wave solutions | | Para-phenylenediamine (hair dyes), formaldehyde (shampoos), fragrances (shampoos and cosmetics), glyceryl monothioglycolate (permanent hair wave solutions) | | | Housekeepers | | Cleansers, disinfectants, water | | Rubber chemicals (gloves), fragrances and preservatives (cleaning and disinfectant solutions) | | | Health care workers | | Soap, water, gloves, disinfectants | | Rubber chemicals (gloves), glutaraldehyde (cold sterilizer for instruments), preservatives (skin care products) | | | Photographers | | Water, developers, fixers, bleaches | | Color developers, black and white developers |
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