[The most frequent contact allergens in the province of Tarnów].

2492 persons presenting contact eczema symptoms were tested with the 22 standard allergens' set in the Allergologic Laboratory of the District Hospital in Tarnów between 1982 and 1991. 946 persons (38% of all examined patients) had positive patch tests. Chromium, nickel, balsam of Peru, cobalt, prodermin, paraphenylenodiamine, anasthesin were the most often sensitizing contact allergens. The most frequent allergen for women was nickel, for men-chrome. The monovalent contact allergy prevailed over the polyvalent one.