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Biomedical subjects

L Kanerva

Publications and source records attributed to L Kanerva.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Occupational skin and respiratory diseases among hairdressers.

OBJECTIVES: The occurrence and causes of hairdressers' occupational skin and respiratory diseases were studied. METHODS: Of a random sample of 500 female hairdressers aged 15-54 years, 355 were available for study. Of the 189 reporting work-related skin and respiratory symptoms in a computer-aided telephone interview on exposure and health, 130 underwent a physical examination, lung function tests, prick and patch testing, and nasal and lung provocation tests. An occupational disease was diagnosed when the causality between exposure and disease was probable and the clinical tests supported the diagnosis. RESULTS: The telephone interview revealed a life-time prevalence of 16.9% for hand dermatoses, 16.9% for allergic rhinitis, and 4.5% for asthma among the hairdressers. In the clinical investigations, the prevalence was 2.8% for occupational dermatoses, 1.7% for occupational rhinitis, and 0.8% for occupational asthma. Ammonium persulfate caused 90% of the respiratory diseases and 27% of the hand dermatoses. Paraphenylenediamine, natural rubber latex, and skin irritation were also causes of hand dermatitis. Allergy to human dandruff (8.6%) and Pityrosporum ovale (12.1%) was common. Previously diagnosed atopic diseases increased the risk for occupational skin or respiratory disease 3-fold (odds ratio 2.9, 95% confidence interval 1.1-7.9). Of the cases, 37.5% (6 of 16 persons) had to change occupations during a 3-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Work-related skin and respiratory symptoms are common among hairdressers. Often a specific cause (eg, ammonium persulfate) can be found if occupational diseases are suspected and diagnosed. Hairdressers with atopic diseases are at risk of developing occupational skin and respiratory diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Airborne occupational allergic contact dermatitis from champignon mushroom.

BACKGROUND: Allergic contact dermatitis from mushrooms has only seldom been reported. OBJECTIVES: We report on a mushroom picker who developed skin symptoms from occupational exposure to the mushroom champignon. METHODS: Conventional patch testing and prick testings were performed. RESULTS: Erythema and vesicular edemic dermatitis appeared around the eyes, on the cheeks, around the nose, and around the lips of a 31-year-old woman who had been involved in the commercial production of champignons for 5 years. Prick testing to champignon was negative, but patch testing with raw champignon provoked a 2+ allergic reaction and was negative in the controls. CONCLUSION: Our patient had been occupationally sensitized from exposure to champignon. The allergen is not known but may be a low-molecularweight chemical or a protein present in the champignon.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Contact leukoderma caused by patch testing with dental acrylics.

Several chemicals are capable of inducing contact leukoderma. Here we report on a dental nurse who had been investigated elsewhere at a dermatology clinic 2.8 years earlier because of suspected occupational fingertip dermatitis. She had been patch tested on her upper arm with dental acrylic resins "as is." These strong concentrations of patch test substances caused a severe allergic reaction in the upper arm, and the patch test sites have remained vitiliginous for 2.8 years. Active sensitization did not take place because the patient had been sensitized earlier as shown by the allergic 2-day readings with acrylics during the first patch test session. It is assumed that acrylates induced contact vitiligo, but the dental acrylics may have also contained other chemicals (eg, hydroquinone or phenolic substances) capable of causing vitiligo. The main point to be learned from the present results is that dental acrylics should never be patch tested "as is." We also discourage the practice of use tests, open tests, or repeated open patch tests with undiluted dental acrylics because of the risk of active sensitization from single exposure.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMed1997

Postal questionnaire study of disability associated with latex allergy among health care workers in Finland.

In this study, the association between natural rubber latex (NRL) sensitization and work ability index (WAI) among health care workers was investigated. Furthermore, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of a postal questionnaire as a screening device of NRL allergy was evaluated. The study population consisted of 32 female health care workers with an occupational latex allergy, and 51 control subjects who were individually matched for age and occupation. A self-administered two-part questionnaire, including seven items of a work ability index (WAI), as well as questions on glove-related symptoms, was mailed to the subjects. The median age for NRL allergic subjects was 40 years (range 23-62), and the diagnosis of occupational latex allergy had been made six years (range 2-16) before the present study. The WAI scores were on average lower among the sensitized subjects as compared with their nonsensitized controls. Even after removing the contribution of the presence of allergic eczema, diagnosed by a physician, from the original WAI score, the proportion of NRL allergic subjects and the control subjects in the good work ability category were 34% and 53%, respectively. Ten health care workers (31%) had changed occupation and one early retirement had occurred after sensitization to NRL. The sensitivity and specificity of the present self-administered questionnaire as an indicator for latex allergy was 84% and 98%, respectively. In conclusion, there is a clear association between NRL allergy and a decrease in the WAI among health care workers, which cannot be explained by age, gender, profession, or history of atopy.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

The risk of occupational rhinitis.

OBJECTIVE: Reports on the aetiology and risk of occupational rhinitis in different occupations are scarce. METHOD: The purpose of this study was to find the occupations with an increased risk of occupational rhinitis. Age and gender differences in occupational rhinitis and occupational asthma were also compared, and the most common causes of occupational rhinitis were analysed. DESIGN: This study covered the cases of occupational rhinitis and asthma reported to the Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases during the years 1986-1991. The cases on the Register were linked to the longitudinal census data file from the Finnish censuses. RESULTS: During 1986-1991, 1244 new cases of occupational rhinitis (474 women and 497 men) and 1867 new cases of occupational asthma (916 women and 951 men) were reported to the Register. Animal dander, flours, wood dusts, textiles, phthalic acid anhydrides and storage mites were important causes of occupational rhinitis. The highest relative risk of occupational rhinitis was among furriers, the age-standardized rate ratio (SRR) was 30.0. Bakers and livestock breeders had also a markedly elevated relative risk (SRR = 22.0). Men had the highest incidence of occupational rhinitis at the age of 25-29 years and among women the incidence gradually increased and reached the peak in the group 40-44 years of age. CONCLUSION: Furriers, bakers, and livestock breeders had the most elevated relative risk of occupational rhinitis. Occupational rhinitis cases reported at a younger age than asthma, suggesting that rhinitis often precedes asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Hairdresser's koilonychia.

Koilonychia is a nail disorder well known to accompany certain systemic diseases, but it can also be caused by external factors. We report two cases of occupational koilonychia in hairdressers caused by the toxic effect of chemicals used in permanent wave. Hairdresser's koilonychia has been seldom reported, but may be common.

Beauty Culture↗
PubMed1997

Allergenic ingredients in nail polishes.

It has been known since the 1940s that nail polishes contain allergenic ingredients. The aim of this study was to clarify whether the nail polishes on the market today contain significant amounts of allergens, and what the solvents are. The following ingredients were determined: toluene, toluene sulfonamide formaldehyde resins, free formaldehyde, acrylates, methacrylates and certain organic solvents. The study comprised 20 brands and 42 samples. All the nail polishes analysed contained allergenic toluene sulfonamide formaldehyde resins (TSFR), in concentrations from 0.08 to 11.0%. The concentration of total formaldehyde varied from 0.02% to 0.5%. The more TSFR a nail polish contained, the higher was its formaldehyde content. Probably not only TSFR-allergic but also formaldehyde-allergic persons may get dermatitis from many of the nail polishes studied. The concentrations of acrylates and methacrylates were so small that they are of practical significance only to those previously sensitized to acrylates. Of the organic solvents, toluene was still widely used, whereas xylene was found in only 1 product. The nail polishes on the market today are not safe for all consumers. However, according to the regulations of the European Union, the packaging labeling of all cosmetic products must be supplied with a list of ingredients from the beginning of 1998. This will help the consumer to avoid allergenic products. A better alternative could, however, be to substitute the most allergenic ingredients with substances possessing minor allergy potency.

Acrylates↗
PubMed1997

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from 2,3-epoxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (EPTMAC) and Kathon LX in a starch modification factory.

2,3-epoxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (EPTMAC) is used in the production of cationic starch (CS) for the paper industry. It has been shown to be a sensitizer in guinea pigs, but cases of human sensitization are few. 4 workers were previously sensitized to the substance in a Finnish plant. This report describes 3 process men from another plant examined because of recurring dermatitis. 18 workers were involved in production, and had free access to all work sites. 3 process men, whose work involved drying the CS, had dermatitis, although they had only occasional contact with the cationizing chemical. 2 were already verified to be allergic to EPTMAC and had had variable dermatitis for 8-12 years. One had had dermatitis on his face for 1 year. Patch testing with a dilution series (1%, 0.5%, 0.2%, 0.1% pet.) confirmed their allergy to the cationizing chemical containing EPTMAC, but tests with CS were negative. In addition, 2 had contact allergy to Cl+ Me-isothiazolinone from contact with Kathon LX used as a slimicide in the process. In long-standing (years) recurrent dermatitis, re-examination of patients with verified exposure history and skin test is necessary. In line with our previous study, sampling the process materials, maintenance work and contamination of work sites and gloves caused sensitization. The results also confirm that EPTMAC is a strong human contact sensitizer. 0.2%-0.5% pure EPTMAC in pet. seems to be the optimal patch test concentration.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Hand dermatitis and allergic patch test reactions caused by nickel in electroplaters.

A worksite survey was conducted in all 38 Finnish electroplating plants. All workers (n = 163) who worked with nickel plating (bath workers, hangers and solution makers) were interviewed with a questionnaire about symptoms of nickel dermatitis, hand dermatitis, and about protective measures, atopy, etc. Patch testing with nickel sulfate was done with the TRUE TestTM method. All the workers, 94 men and 69 women, answered the questionnaire. The mean age of women was 41.1 years, and of men 43.1 years, respectively. Men had longer occupational exposure to nickel (14 years) than women (10 years). Most workers used protective gloves. 35% of women and 30% of men reported present or past hand dermatosis. 19% reported a history of atopic dermatitis. 15% of women (n = 8) and 4% (n = 2) of men had an allergic patch test reaction to nickel sulfate. 70% of those with an allergic patch test reaction to nickel reported past or present hand eczema. The prevalence of nickel allergy among the electroplaters was similar to that of patients in patch test clinics in Finland. An allergic patch test reaction to nickel sulfate does not necessarily oblige an electroplater to change jobs.

Adult↗