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Dermatitis is characterized by itchy, red, inflamed skin lesions, or rash. It occurs widely in many industrial settings where employees are exposed to irritants, vegetation, chemicals and other materials. In response to an employee request, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigated a large outbreak of dermatitis among 5,600 construction workers employed at two nuclear power plants in the southwestern part of the United States. It was suggested that working with or near the fire-retardant lumber and plywood used in construction was responsible for the skin irritation. Carpenters and others who worked indoors used fire-retardant materials exclusively; untreated lumber was used for outdoor construction. The retardant preparation included phosphoric acid, formaldehyde, and dicyandiamide. Exposed workers completed demographic questionnaires; those who reported rashes were examined and their condition was verified and classified. The nurses' log revealed that, from February to October 1986, 407 of 445 workers were examined for skin-related complaints, compared with 122 visits at the same time the previous year. Carpenters, laborers, and iron workers had the highest rate of dermatitis, and carpenters who worked only with fire-retardant lumber had a rate of dermatitis that was four times greater than the rate of carpenters who worked only with nontreated wood. Although no specific component in the preparation could be faulted, the highest rate of involvement occurred in those whose work required handling and fabricating the treated lumber. Carpenters and others who handle fire-retardant lumber should be advised of this problem, especially if they work in regions with high temperature and humidity. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

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