Skin reactivity in workers with and without itching from occupational exposure to glass fibres

98 workers at a glass-wool factory were divided into three comparable groups: those with persistent troublesome itching from the fibres, those without itching, and those who had become 'hardened' to the itching. The three groups were compared with respect to the results of patch testing with glass fibres and six chemical irritants, a rubbing test with fibres, the Trafuril test, and provocation of dermographism. Anamnestic data with respect to atopy, itching from wool and synthetic fibres, sweating, and reactions to the sun were evaluated, as also was the general skin pigmentation. No statistically significant differences between the three groups were found in respect of any of these tests or factors except for a subjectively increased sensitivity in the rubbing test with fibres for the itching group. It is possible that similar itch-provocation tests might be useful for pre-employment assessment to predict severe occupational itching from glass fibres.