Occupational skin diseases in Northern Bavaria between 1990 and 1999: a population-based study

Background Occupational skin diseases (OSDs) account for a large portion of occupational diseases in Europe, but population-based epidemiological studies are missing. Objectives We analysed the initial reports of OSDs in our register of OSDs in Northern Bavaria (BKH-N). Methods A total of 5285 cases were assessed prospectively and registered from 1990 to 1999. As the German Federal Employment Office provides specific occupational data in relation to the total employed population of Northern Bavaria, it was possible to conduct a population-based study that investigated the trend in incidence rates between two study periods (1990–92 and 1993–99) in 24 different occupational groups. Results A total of 3097 cases of OSD (median age 25 years) were recorded in the 24 occupational groups. There was a significant decline (P