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Concurrent sensitization to metals and occupation
Author(s) -
Rui Francesca,
Bovenzi Massimo,
Prodi Andrea,
Fortina Anna Belloni,
Romano Ilaria,
Corradin Maria Teresa,
Filon Francesca Larese
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
contact dermatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0536
pISSN - 0105-1873
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0536.2012.02100.x
Subject(s) - cobalt , chromium , nickel , odds ratio , confidence interval , patch test , medicine , population , sensitization , toxicology , environmental health , metallurgy , materials science , immunology , allergy , biology
Background. Cosensitization to nickel, cobalt and chromium occurs in the general population and in some occupational groups. Objectives. To estimate the isolated and concurrent occurrence of nickel, cobalt and chromium contact sensitization and their association with individual and occupational risk factors. Patients/methods. Twelve thousand four hundred and ninety‐two patients were patch tested with the European baseline series between 1997 and 2004 in north‐eastern Italy. The associations between patch test results and patient characteristics and occupations were investigated by means of multinomial logistic regression analysis. Results. Of the patients, 34.7% (4334 patients) had one or more positive patch test reactions to metals. As compared with those with negative reactions to all three metals, nickel sensitization was significantly higher in females than in males, not only as monosensitization, but also as cosensitization with cobalt, with chromium, or with both metals. Building and related trades workers showed positive reactions to chromium + nickel [odds ratio (OR) 1.99; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05–3.76) and chromium + cobalt (OR 2.61; 95% CI 1.46–4.67]. Cleaning workers showed a high prevalence of nickel, chromium, nickel + chromium and nickel + cobalt + chromium cosensitization (ORs 1.29, 1.66, 2.11, and 1.79, respectively). An excess risk for cosensitization to all three metals was found in textile and leather workers (OR 2.19; 95% CI 1.10–4.33), and in bartenders (OR 2.10; 95% CI 1.03–4.26). Conclusions. Some occupational groups are more likely to develop nickel, cobalt and chromium cosensitization.