[Waste volatile ashes, a new source of hypersensitivity to metals]

Dermatological examination was done and patch tests were performed in 393 workers employed in contact with waste volatile ashes in electric power stations, and workers employed in construction material industry producing prefabricated construction blocks from these ashes. All studied workers were exposed also additionally to mineral oils. Eczema was found in 17.8% of cases, and oil acne in 8.1%. Chromium hypersensitivity was noted in 21.4% of workers, cobalt hypersensitivity in 12.2% and nickel hypersensitivity in 5.3%. Using the method of atomic absorption spectrophotometry the levels were assessed of chromium, cobalt and nickel in these ashes comparing them with the levels in cement. In the ashes the content of chromium and cobalt exceeded three times their content in cement. The content of soluble chromium compounds in the ashes was lower than in cement from European countries and approached that in American cement.