[Allergic skin reactions in metallurgic industries (author's transl)]

The sensitizing properties of additives to cooling emulsions are reviewed. Presently the majority oft skin disorders due to cooling emulsions is of toxic and not of allergic origin. However, the introduction of new chemical substances either as substitutes of nitrites or for a more effective preservation may reverse this ratio especially if potent allergens are used unitentionally. In evaluating the advantage of a new additive its possible sensitizing properties has to be considered.