Health screening for occupational dermatoses in house painters

During 1976-77 a field investigation was carried out into skin diseases among house painters in Stockholm, Sweden. The study was divided into three stages: I. questionnaires investigation, II. examination of painters who reported skin diseases, and III. patch testing and final classification. Of the 2,622 painters registered on 30 November 1976, 2239 (85.4%) answered the questionnaire. Current dermatoses were reported by 373 painters (16.7%) and of these, 227 were examined by us, 40 had recently been examined, and 106 did not attend. Occupational contact eczemas were diagnosed in 87 cases, and it was doubtful if the dermatoses were occupational in an additional 56 cases. A prevalence of 3.9% was suggested, but this represents a minimum figure. Chloracetamide was found to be an important cause of occupational contact eczema. A personal and/or family history of atopy was common among the affected painters. Solvents were widely used for skin cleansing; there is a great need for continuous information on protective measurements, and on skin cleansing and care. It is concluded that field investigation give higher and probably more reliable prevalence figures for occupational dermatoses than data compiled from outpatient clinics.