The skin and occupational diseases.

The skin is a major potential route for the absorption of hazardous materials encountered in the workplace. Percutaneous absorption is influenced by a large number of factors. In some situations, it may be the major route of absorption. Methods are available to determine this in industrial situations. Occupational dermatoses are the most frequent of all occupational diseases. Sources of information about these diseases are reviewed and limitations discussed. There is a particular need for analytic epidemiologic studies. In the case of occupational skin disease, such studies particularly need a sound design, appropriate comparison groups, the systematic collection of cutaneous observations, and attention to potential confounding factors.