Abstract
The metal industry employs a significant part of the workforce in modern industrial countries mainly in machine construction, car engineering, metal production, and electrotechnical production. Metal workers are exposed to numerous exogenous factors and are more susceptible to the effects of exposure to contact irritants. In many jobs in the metal industry, there is a high risk of irritant hand dermatitis.
Prevalence rates of hand dermatitis in metalworking companies may exceed 20%.
Allergic contact dermatitis seems to be less prevalent. Most frequent sensitizations seem to be to metalworking fluid constituents and rarely to metals themselves.
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Lima, A.L., Elsner, P. (2020). Metal Industry. In: John, S., Johansen, J., Rustemeyer, T., Elsner, P., Maibach, H. (eds) Kanerva’s Occupational Dermatology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68617-2_171
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68617-2_171
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