Irritant contact dermatitis  the most common irritants

1. Irritant contact dermatitis the most common irritants Riitta Jolanki, D.Tech. (Chem.Eng.), Docent Senior Research Scientist, Dermatotoxicologist Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) Department of Occupational Medicine Section of Dermatology riitta.jolanki@ttl.fi

2. Causes of occupational ICD(1990–99; N=4 498 cases)

3. Detergents

4. Causes of occupational ICD(1990–99; N=4 498 cases) • Detergents 30.5% • Wet work 12.2% • Dirty work 7.9% • Oils and lubricants 7.2% • Organic solvents 5.2% • Handling of foodstuffs 4.4% • Organic materials 3.3% • Mechanical friction 2.4%

5. Number of occupational dermatoses due to detergents (1975 –2002; ROD) Cases Year

6. Detergent dermatoses by exposure (N=64; FIOH)

7. Prevention of detergent dermatitis • Use of proper washing agents • Dilute cleaning fluids to the correct strenght • Use of proper protective gloves (+ inner gloves) • Gloves are usually not necessary in dry work • Avoiding unnecessary hand washing • Avoiding the use of rings, bracelets and wrist watches • Using hand creams

8. Wet and dirty work

9. Causes of occupational ICD(1990–99; N=4 498 cases) • Detergents 30.5% • Wet work 12.2% • Dirty work 7.9% • Oils and lubricants 7.2% • Organic solvents 5.2% • Handling of foodstuffs 4.4% • Organic materials 3.3% • Mechanical friction 2.4%

10. Wet / dirty work • Kitchen work • Health care work • Barber/hair-dressing work • Prolonged or frequent use of polymer gloves • Dairy farming • Garden work • Machine and engine repair and service work • Metal working (machinists)

11. Oils and lubricants, including metal-working fluids

12. Causes of occupational ICD(1990–99; N=4 498 cases) • Detergents 30.5% • Wet work 12.2% • Dirty work 7.9% • Oils and lubricants 7.2% • Organic solvents 5.2% • Handling of foodstuffs 4.4% • Organic materials 3.3% • Mechanical friction 2.4%

13. Oils and lubricants • Most irritating are low-viscosity mineral oils, such as diesel oils, fuel oils and mould oils

14. Metal-working fluids • Types • metal-working fluids based on mineral oils • used as 5–10% in water (pH 8–9.5) • antimicrobials, emulgators, high-pressure additives, anticorrosives, fragrance and masking agents • cutting oils • mineral oil • vegetable or animal oil • high-pressure additives • metal-working fluids based on synthetic oils • Irritants • fluid components • decomposition compounds • metal chips

15. Organic solvents

16. Causes of occupational ICD(1990–99; N=4 498 cases) • Detergents 30.5% • Wet work 12.2% • Dirty work 7.9% • Oils and lubricants 7.2% • Organic solvents 5.2% • Handling of foodstuffs 4.4% • Organic materials 3.3% • Mechanical friction 2.4%

17. Organic solvents • Highly irritating solvents • hydrocarbons • aromatic • aliphatic • halogenated • Less irritating solvents • alcohols, ketones, ethers and esters • Use • paints, lacquers and glues • solvent-based cleaning agents (e.g., in metal industry) • industrial hand-cleaning agents, etc.

18. Synthetic mineral fibres (i.e. man-made vitreous fibres, MMVF) • Glass filament • Mineral wool • glass wool • rock wool • slag wool • Refractory ceramic fibres • Fibres for special purposes

19. Mineral wools • It is very likely that most of the cases due to mineral wools are mild cases with temporary itching. These mild cases are not (and should not be) reported to the Register • Mineral wool cannot be considered to be a common cause of occupationally induced ICD