Summary
Occupational contact dermatitis to arsenic trioxide was observed in three men working at an atelier of composition in the glass industry. Cutaneous lesions (pruritic maculopapules, pustules, and folliculitis) were localized mainly in exposed and moist areas. Rhinitis and pharyngitis were mentioned by two patients. All had concomitant signs of peripheric polyneuropathy. Dosage of arsenic in the hair and nails varied between 17 and 35 mg/100 g and in the urine between 11.6 and 46.6 μg/ 100 ml. Patch tests with the manipulated products as is gave a pustular and follicular reaction to arsenic trioxide in two patients. Negative reactions were observed at concentrations of 5%, 2%, and 1% in petrolatum, and also in 25 controls. The irritative nature of the lesions is discussed, and the authors point out the importance of cutaneous lesions in calling attention to other signs of chronic intoxication by arsenic, e.g., neurological signs.
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© 1989 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Gonçalo, S., Silva, M.S., Gonçalo, M., Baptista, A.P. (1989). Occupational Contact Dermatitis to Arsenic Trioxide. In: Frosch, P., Dooms-Goossens, A., Lachapelle, JM., Rycroft, R.J.G., Scheper, R.J. (eds) Current Topics in Contact Dermatitis. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-74299-6_70
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-74299-6_70
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
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