Occupational dermatoses in agriculture: Part 1

In all sectors of agriculture there is a threat of irritant contact dermatitis by wet and dirty work. Pesticides are used everywhere, which may cause allergic contact dermatitis. Workers in cattle breeding have not infrequently skin diseases of diverse character: irritant or allergic contact dermatitis, contact urticaria or protein contact dermatitis and infections. One can find also many dermatoses in bulb-growing industry and floriculture. Plants which are often involved are e.g. Compositae, Alstroemeria, Ficus benjamina, Hedera helix, Primula obconica and in Japan Dendropanax trifidus Makino. In the USA the Anacardiaceae are a plague like in India Parthenium hysterophorus, however, occupational contact is often not so important with these last plants.