Keywords

1 Core Messages

Due to the diversity and large number of skin-hazardous chemicals to which chemists may be exposed, it is impossible to provide a comprehensive list.

Occupational dermatosis is often the consequence of accidental exposure, such as a spillage of a chemical on the skin.

Distillation or other purification procedures carry an increased risk of skin exposure.

Often the sensitizers are not the final compounds, but intermediates.

Occupational contact allergy is diagnosed particularly often among chemistry students and those conducting their postgraduate studies in chemistry.

Allergic contact dermatitis among chemistry researchers is often the first clue that a new chemical is a potential contact sensitizer.

See Chap. 169, “Laboratory Technicians,” for the prevention of occupational skin diseases.

2 Introduction

Chemists perform chemical tests, carry out qualitative and quantitative analyses, conduct experiments for quality or process control, develop new products, and produce new knowledge. Nearly every industry employs a chemist. Exposure to only a single chemical is exceptional. Due to the diversity and large number of skin-hazardous chemicals to which chemists may be exposed, it is impossible to provide a comprehensive list of such substances. Chemists are usually well aware of the hazardous properties of chemical substances and take the precautions necessary to ensure their safe use. Regrettably, chemists who habitually handle dangerous substances may become inclined to disregard the hazards associated with them.

In the laboratory, skin contact with chemicals is a frequent though not necessary consequence of work. Occupational dermatosis is often the consequence of accidental exposure, such as a spillage of a chemical on the skin (Warshaw 1988; Foussereau 1989; Niklasson et al. 1990; Le Coz and Lepoittevin 2001; Goossens and Deschutter 2003; Tjiu et al. 2004). In analytical work, chemicals are used in small quantities and thus the potential hazard is reduced. The working processes which carry an increased risk of skin exposure are distillation or other purification procedures (Dooms-Goossens et al. 1990; Kerre et al. 1995), and synthesis (Rycroft 1983; Conde-Salazar et al. 1984; Sonnex and Rycroft 1986; Foussereau 1989; Valsecchi et al. 1989; Bassi et al. 2008). Very often, the sensitizers are not the final compounds, but intermediates (Rycroft 1981; Conde-Salazar et al. 1984; Dooms-Goossens et al. 1986; Sonnex and Rycroft 1986; Carmichael et al. 1989; Romaguera et al. 1990; Wakelin et al. 1998). Furthermore, occupational contact allergy has been diagnosed particularly among chemistry students (Rothe 1988; Foussereau 1989; Dooms-Goossens et al. 1991; Thomas et al. 1997; Le Coz and Lepoittevin 2001; Verlinden and Gloossens 2003; Tjiu et al. 2004; Lammintausta and Neuvonen 2008) and those conducting their postgraduate studies in chemistry (Curley et al. 1986; Dooms-Goossens et al. 1990; Hausen 1992; Kerre et al. 1995). Allergic contact dermatitis among chemistry researchers is often the first clue that a new chemical is a potential contact sensitizer. Today’s research chemicals often become tomorrow’s routine laboratory reagents or industrial chemicals.

Dermatitis due to chemical irritants is vastly underreported. Allergens are more commonly reported than irritants; consequently, the documented allergens affecting chemists outnumber their irritant counterparts (Berne et al. 2008; Rycroft et al. 1995). Though the diagnosis of an irritant contact dermatitis is commonly less clear, publication of both allergens and irritants is encouraged.

For further information on the complex biology of irritant dermatitis, including chemicals that may cause irritant contact dermatitis in a chemist, see Irritant Dermatitis by Ai-Lean Chew (Chew and Maibach 2000).

3 Contact Irritants and Allergens

The main causes of irritant contact dermatitis among chemists are probably the same as those among laboratory technicians, i.e., frequent hand washing (wet work, soaps, and skin disinfectants), the use of polymer gloves, organic solvents, and acid and basic liquids (see Chap. 169, “Laboratory Technicians”). Most of the remaining irritants are specific to each workplace (Table 1).

Table 1 Contact irritants found in case reports (with respect to other contact irritants see Chap. 169, “Laboratory Technicians”)
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In a chemical laboratory, delayed-type contact allergy often develops to well-known allergens (Table 2), but also to rare and even new sensitizers (Table 3). Immediate-type contact allergy from laboratory animals (see details in Chap. 5, “Occupational Dermatology: Ethical Aspects”) is more common among people carrying out experiments with animals, e.g., laboratory technicians and chemists, than in those tending them. The former tasks involve more direct handling of the animals, their secretions, and their internal organs (Susitaival and Hannuksela 1997; Gimenez-Arnau and Maibach 2015). Other causative agents of contact urticaria found in case reports have been listed in Table 4.

Table 2 Standard contact allergens
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Table 3 Additional potential contact allergens
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Table 4 Causative agents of contact urticaria found in case reports (for animals, see Chap. 5, “Occupational Dermatology: Ethical Aspects”)
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Patch Testing, 4th Edition by Anton de Groot comprehensively reviews 4900 allergens and irritants and includes suggested dilution and vehicles, as relates to diagnostic patch testing. As many chemicals used by chemists are also used in other industries, one can find many chemicals applicable to a chemist included in the book.

For more information on the prevention of occupational skin diseases, see Chap. 169, “Laboratory Technicians.”

For other related issues, see Chaps. 169, “Laboratory Technicians,” 183, “Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Industries,” and 31, “Occupational and Environmental Acne.”