Epidemiology of occupational skin disease in Singapore 1989–1998

This is an epidemiologic study of occupational skin disease in Singapore. All patients diagnosed with occupational dermatoses in the National Skin Centre, Singapore, over the 10-year period 1989–1998 were studied retrospectively. Irritant contact dermatitis was found to be more common than allergic contact dermatitis. The major sources of occupational dermatitis in Singapore were the metal/engineering, building/construction, electrical/electronics and transport industries. The main irritants were detergents/wet work, solvent and oil/grease. The main allergens were chromate, rubber chemicals and nickel. We concluded that the main sources of occupational skin disease and main allergens in Singapore had remained the same compared to a similar study of occupational skin diseases in 1984–85. Weak irritants are still the predominant causes of occupational irritant contact dermatitis, though the main irritants have changed compared to the previous study, where cutting fluids, cement and solvent were the most common irritants.