[Nickel sensitization in women and its relevance to occupation]

213 women and 26 men out of 7835 persons examined in the course of 9 years (1967--1975) had a positive reaction to nickle sulfate. The frequency of the sensitization to nickel increased during this time, from 0.9 to 5.01%. 121 of the sensitized women were less than 30 years old. The first manifestations of that contact eczema due to metal ions appeared on the earlobes, the fingers in the ring-region, the hands, the wrists and the neck. In most of the men but only in 20 women (1 photograph, 19 metallists), a professional cause could be revealed, and an occupational disease was recognized. In the other women, a non-professional cause was found. No hair-dresser had been sensitized to nickel, by an occupational contact. The increase of the allergy ot nickel from 1967 to 1975 was mainly due to wearing costume-jewelry since the localisation of the contact eczemas ofter corresponded to the trend of fashion. Before demanding the recognition as an occupational disease in case of positive tests, the relevance of the latter to the occupation of the subject should be elucidated.