Irritant contact dermatitis and chrome-passivated metal.

An outbreak of hand dermatitis is reported amongst employees working on a new assembly line of an electronics factory. 24 out of 41 employees had signs of irritant contact dermatitis. The fingertips and the dorsal parts of the hands were especially affected. Mechanical factors in combination with zinc-chromium compounds from galvanised steel seemed to be responsible for the dermatitis and the dry skin. The use of an emollient solved the problem.