IMMUNE, DERMAL AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Dermal Diseases

Inputs: Occupational Safety and Health Risks

More than 13 million workers in the United States are potentially exposed to chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin. A worker's skin may be exposed to hazardous chemicals through direct contact with contaminated surfaces, deposition of aerosols, immersion, or splashes. The harmful exposure of a worker's skin to toxic chemicals may result in adverse health impacts including systemic effects and/or localized skin injuries. Contact dermatitis is one of the most common chemically induced occupational illnesses, accounting for 10-15 % of all occupational illnesses at an estimated annual cost of at least $1 billion.