NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Epidemiology of dermatitis among California farm workers.

Gamsky TE; McCurdy SA; Wiggins P; Samuels SJ; Berman B; Shenker MB

J Occup Med 1992 Mar; 34(3):304-310

http://journals.lww.com/joem/Abstract/1992/03000/Epidemiology_of_Dermatitis_among_California_Farm.16.aspx

00206042

The prevalence of dermatitis in the farm worker population in California was determined, and associated risk factors were investigated. To evaluate crop specific dermatitis risks, the study focused on 759 grape, citrus, and tomato workers in California's Central Valley region. The prevalence of contact dermatitis was 2% and lichenified hand dermatitis was 13%. Grape workers were more likely to report rashes in the last 12 months than were tomato workers or citrus workers. Grape workers were more likely to have contact dermatitis and lichenified hand dermatitis than were citrus or tomato workers. Factors associated with lichenified hand dermatitis were increasing hours per week in agriculture, being of the male sex, and not wearing gloves. While no measurements were taken of exposures such as foliar contact in this study, grape working is a labor intensive occupation requiring extensive physical contact with plants and plant products. The authors concluded that skin disease in agricultural workers may be causally associated with crop specific exposures and the nonuse of protective equipment.

Agricultural-industry; Skin-exposure; Allergic-reactions; Allergic-dermatitis; Gloves; Hand-protection; Personal-protective-equipment; Risk-factors; Plant-substances; Skin-disorders

JOCMA7

19920301

Journal Article

1055222

Cooperative Agreement

1992

Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U07-CCU-906162

3

0096-1736

Journal of Occupational Medicine

CA

University of California - Davis