Contact Dermatitis in Construction Workers in Northeastern Italian Patch Test Database Between 1996 and 2016.

Area of Science:

• Occupational dermatology
• Environmental health
• Allergen identification

Background:

• Construction workers (CWs) frequently experience contact dermatitis due to chemical exposure and harsh working conditions.
• Occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) poses a significant health risk in the construction industry.
• Wet and cold environments exacerbate skin conditions in CWs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze contact dermatitis patterns in construction workers undergoing patch testing.
• To identify specific allergens responsible for occupational dermatitis in this cohort.
• To compare allergen prevalence in CWs versus white-collar workers.

Main Methods:

• Patch testing was performed on 795 construction workers.
• Data were compared with 2,099 male white-collar workers.
• Multivariate logistic regression analyzed occupation-allergen associations; incidence data spanned 1996-2016.

Main Results:

• Construction workers showed higher sensitization to potassium dichromate (OR 3.1), thiurams (OR 8.6), and epoxy resins (OR 12.7).
• Chromate sensitization declined post-2004 EU regulation, while epoxy resin and thiuram sensitization increased.
• Overall incidence of occupational contact dermatitis in CWs significantly decreased.

Conclusions:

• EU regulations effectively reduced chromate sensitization and overall OCD incidence in CWs.
• Increasing sensitization to epoxy resins and thiurams highlights the need for enhanced protective measures.
• Continued vigilance and improved safety protocols are crucial for construction worker skin health.