Contact dermatitis and contact sensitization among enamellers and decorators in the ceramics industry

126 enamellers and 64 decorators from 5 factories underwent dermatological and allergological examination using occupational test series in order to evaluate the prevalence of dermatitis and contact sensitization, and to identify the most important sensitizing substances. 48 workers (corresponding to 25.26% of the study population) were sensitized, with a total of 55 positive patch tests. Dermatitis was present in 22 workers, whereas 44 subjects claimed to have had skin lesions in the past. We found 17 positivities to specific substances: 7 to red iron oxide; 2 to antimony trioxide, manganese dioxide and maleic anhydride; and 1 to red copper oxide, cadmium chloride, vanadium pentoxide and sodium tripolyphosphate.