Contact allergy in male construction workers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2000-2005

• Published in: Contact dermatitis Vol. 56; no. 4; pp. 232 - 234
• Main Authors: Macedo, Marzia Silva, De Avelar Alchorne, Alicede Oliveira, Costa, Enilde Borges, Montesano, Fábio Tadeu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2007; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adult; allergic contact dermatitis; Allergic diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil - epidemiology; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Construction Materials - toxicity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact - epidemiology; Dermatitis, Occupational - epidemiology; Humans; Immunopathology; Male; Medical sciences; metals; Metals and various inorganic compounds; occupational; patch test; Patch Tests; Risk Factors; rubber chemicals; Skin allergic diseases. Stinging insect allergies; Toxicology; South America; Brazil; America; Human; Immunopathology; Allergy; Chemical industry; Skin disease; Toxicity; allergic contact dermatitis; occupational; Chemical compound; Male; metals; Metal; Occupational exposure; Contact dermatitis; rubber chemicals; patch test; Rubber; Patch; Occupational medicine; Skin test
• ISSN: 0105-1873; 1600-0536
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0536.2007.01085.x

There are no recent data on allergens in the construction industry in Brazil; apparently there were no changes in allergenic substances. The objective of this study was to identify sensitization to allergens in adult males working in the construction industry. A cross‐sectional study with adult males submitted to patch tests from May 2000 to December 2005. Out of 169 male patients, 83 were construction workers. The five most frequent allergens among the construction workers were potassium dichromate (57%), carba‐mix (34.9%), cobalt chloride (30.2%), thiuram‐mix (27.9%) and neomycin (19.8%). There is a significant sensitization to potassium dichromate, cobalt, carba‐mix, and thiuram‐mix, demonstrating that cement and rubber gloves of personal protection equipment still account for allergic contact dermatitis in construction industry workers.