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Extract

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis and major allergens in France: temporal trends for the period 2001–2010

L. Bensefa‐Colas, M. Telle‐Lamberton, C. Paris, S. Faye, S.J. Stocks, A. Luc, J.‐L. Bourrain, M.‐N. Crépy, D. Dupas, P. Frimat, R. Garnier, M.‐P. Lehucher‐Michel, J.‐C. Pairon, J.‐M. Soulat, G. Lasfargues, D. Choudat, the members of the French National Network of Occupational Disease Vigilance Prevention RNV3P* and I. Momas

This summary relates to DOI 10.1111/bjd.13133

British Journal of Dermatology, 171, 1375–1385, December 2014

Summary

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis (OACD) is a skin disease caused in the workplace, by exposure to a substance that the patient is allergic to. It is one of the major causes of work‐related diseases. In France, a national network called RNV3P was set up in 2000 to continuously monitor occupational diseases, including skin allergies. In this study, researchers used data from RNV3P to look at trends in reported cases of OACD, including patients’ occupations and the main causal agents (e.g. substances) in France over the 2001–2010 period. Overall, 3738 cases of OACD were reported, with 74.7% considered as having a certain link between disease and exposure. The mean age of OACD cases was 35 years, and 52% were women. The most frequent occupations affected were hairdressers, health care workers, cleaning staff and masons. Agents or products most frequently involved were: metals (mainly nickel and chromium), hairdressing products (including phenylenediamine and bleaching products), biocidal products (mainly quaternary ammonium compounds and isothiazolinones), resins and glues (mainly epoxy resins), rubber additives, cosmetics (mainly ingredients of soaps), cutting oils and coolants, cleaning products and cement. The total number of OACD cases remained stable over the study period, but increases in OACD were found in relation to isothiazolinones, epoxy resins and fragrances. Decreases were noted for cement compounds and plant products. These trends highlight specific sectors and exposures at risk of OACD. Trends in OACD depend on the nature of exposure. The decreases found in certain occupations were consistent with prevention measures taken during the study period, and the increases observed serve to highlight those areas where preventative efforts need to be made to reduce skin allergies in the workplace.