[Incidence of occupational contact dermatitis in the province of Pordenone in the period of 1995-2000].

Occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) ranks first of all occupational diseases in many countries but few are epidemiological data on incidence of this disease. We studied 146 subjects with OCD in Pordenone area in the period 1994-2000. In 90.5% subjects the diagnosis was allergic contact dermatitis and in 9.5% urticaria. Nickel sulfate was the most common sensitizer (14.7%), followed by latex (13.2%) and potassium dichromate (11.6%). Occupational groups at risk were mechanics (51.4%), health service workers (19.9%) and construction workers (7.5%). The incidence rate was 10.8 cases per 10,000 health service workers per year, 8 cases per 10,000 hairdressers and barbers per year, 4.1 cases per 10,000 construction workers per year and 1.9 cases per 10,000 mechanics per year.