Contact Allergy in Agricultural Workers

Abstract

Agricultural workers (n = 121) referred to the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine for suspected occupational disease were subjected to dermatological and allergological examinations. All were patch and prick tested with standard occupational and environmental allergen sets. Contact dermatitis was diagnosed in 60 (49.6%) patients. In the women, the dominant allergy was that to nickel, benzalkonium, palladium, cobalt, thimerosal, fragrances and balsam of Peru, while the men were most frequently sensitive to chromates, cobalt, 4-phenylenediamine, fragrances, captan, formaldehyde, 4-aminoazobenzene, wool alcohols and cinnamic alcohol. Phenylmercuric chloride caused allergic reactions in 6 women and 2 men, while 6 workers were sensitive to neomycin. Allergy to glutaraldehyde was diagnosed in 3 workers, to lysol in 4, to chlorhexidine in 1, to chloramine in 1. Three patients reacted to thiurams, 3 to diphenylguanidine, 3 to mercaptobenzothiazole. Of the 9 workers sensitive to 4-phenylenediamine, only 2 men reacted additionally to N-isopropyl-N-4-phenylenediamine. Ziram (zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate) and copper sulfate caused allergy in 1 agricultural worker each. Immediate allergy was diagnosed in 43 (35.5%) patients. The dominant allergens in that category included straw dust, hay dust, wheat threshing, rye pollen and cow epithelium. The final diagnosis was based on the clinical picture and the results of the patch and prick tests. Allergic contact dermatitis was diagnosed in 27 (22.3%), atopic dermatitis in 27, irritant contact dermatitis in 15 (12.4%) and urticaria in 9 (7.5%) agricultural workers. Other dermal diseases were diagnosed in single patients. The clinical examinations showed no dermal lesions in 31 (25.6%) patients.

Occupational Contact Dermatitis in Employees of Large-Scale Narcotic Crop Farms of Ethiopia: Prevalence and Risk Factors. A Self-Reported Study Using the Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire

“…Contact dermatitis was linked to the number of hours worked per week, not wearing gloves, male gender, educational position, and poor housing circumstances in other types of farm work. 34 - 38 In the present study, workers over the age of 55 were more likely to have occupational dermatitis than those who were younger. One of the most significant challenges in worldwide skin health has been age-related skin disorders.…”

“…39 Contact dermatitis was linked to the number of hours worked per week, not wearing gloves, male gender, educational position, and poor housing circumstances in other types of farm work. [34][35][36][37][38] In the present study, workers over the age of 55 were more likely to have occupational dermatitis than those Environmental Health Insights devotion to PPE will be questioned if this does not happen. 54 Lack of comfort, fit, and durability were reported as reasons for employees not wearing PPE in this study.…”

“…This study’s outcome was lower than the 69.7% obtained from Nigerian farm laborers. At the same time, it was higher than contact dermatitis prevalence rates among fruit growers in Poland (55.0%), 34 Belize (36.7%), 35 and Taiwan (30.0%), 36 as well as horticulture farm workers in Tanzania (57.0%) 37 and Ethiopia (52.1%). 38 The differences in prevalence rates found in these studies could be due to variations in the kind of activities carried out at the different farm sites.…”

“…Exposure to irritants, allergens, or other skindamaging chemicals is unavoidable in farm work. 34,36,37 Crosstabulations revealed that bundle binding is the predominant job category among this age group, signifying that there may be an increased risk of pesticide contact and plant-related allergies. Thus, measures aimed at promoting safe practices and reducing exposure to hazards may thus contribute to the enhancement of safe work practices.…”

Preliminary ecotoxicity assessment of selected flavour and fragrance compounds using Microtox assay

“…In addition, they may accumulate in living organisms [8]. Fragrance components present in cosmetics commonly lead to the allergic response of the human body [9]. For example, polycyclic and nitro musk are one of the substances applied in the cosmetic industry that have a negative impact on people.…”