Contact sensitization among ceramics workers

139 workers from 3 ceramics factories underwent dermatological and allergological examination, using standard and occupational patch test series, in order to evaluate the prevalence of dermatitis and contact sensitization, to identify the most important sensitizing substances in the ceramics industry, and to correlate the results with possible risk factors such as atopy. Hand dermatitis had affected 37% of the subjects examined. 27% of the workers were sensitized to 1 or more allergens. Of 52 subjects with dermatitis, 37% had allergic contact dermatitis and 63% irritant contact dermatitis. 18 subjects were found to be sensitized without showing any previous or present clinical symptoms. Atopy tended towards correlation with the overall incidence of dermatitis, though not with the prevalence of sensitization.