Has European Union legislation to reduce exposure to chromate in cement been effective in reducing the incidence of allergic contact dermatitis attributed to chromate in the UK?

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Hexavalent chromate (chromate) in cement is a well-recognised cause of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Consequently in January 2005, following European Union legislation (EU Directive 2003/53/EC), the use or supply of cement containing >2 ppm of chromate was prohibited in the UK (COSHH 2004). This analysis of work-related ill-health surveillance aims to evaluate the effectiveness of this legislation.

METHOD:

Changes in the incidence of work-related ACD cases returned to The Health and Occupation Reporting network by dermatologists were analysed taking in to account attribution to chromate and occupation.

RESULTS:

There was a significant decline in the incidence of both ACD attributed to chromate (incidence rate ratio 0.48, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.64) and ACD not-attributed chromate (0.76, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.85) between the time period preceding the EU legislation (2002-2004) and the postlegislation period (2005-2009). However, the decline in ACD attributed to chromate was significantly greater (p=0.006). This decline was further increased in workers potentially exposed to cement (incidence rate ratio 0.37, p=0.001). The majority of the decline in incidence occurred during 2005.

CONCLUSION:

The timing of this significant decline in the UK incidence of chromate attributed ACD, and the greater decline in workers potentially exposed to cement strongly suggests that the EU Directive2003/53/EC was successful in reducing exposure to chromate in cement in the UK.

• Authors: S J Stocks, R McNamee, S Turner, M Carder, R M Agius
• Journal: Occupational and environmental medicine (Occup Environ Med) Vol. 69 Issue 2 Pg. 150-2 (Feb 2012) ISSN: 1470-7926 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21849347 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Chromates
• Metals, Heavy
• Chromium

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Chromates (adverse effects)
• Chromium (adverse effects)
• Construction Materials (adverse effects)
• Dermatitis, Allergic Contact (epidemiology, etiology, prevention & control)
• Dermatitis, Occupational (epidemiology, etiology, prevention & control)
• European Union
• Female
• Government Regulation
• Humans
• Incidence
• Male
• Metals, Heavy (adverse effects)
• Occupational Exposure (adverse effects, legislation & jurisprudence)
• United Kingdom (epidemiology)