ABSTRACT
The aim of this work was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of self-reported, work-related occupational hand eczema, targeting personnel working in hospitals and ambulatory units throughout Romania. A standardized questionnaire was specifically addressed to healthcare professionals from different medical fields. Out of 245 healthcar e providers who took part in the survey, 161 (65.71%) were nurses, and 235 (95.92) women, which confirms that women are prevalent in this working sector. The latex powder-gloves were the most frequently implied trigger factor, 223 (91.02%) responders reported the daily use of protective gloves and 37 (15.12%) of them have reported the protective gloves as a possible cause for skin lesions. Also, an important part of responders testified a prolonged contact with water, which confirms the importance of wet environment in inducing occupational hand eczema. In addition, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of powder free latex gloves was performed in order to establish a correlation between the elemental composition and risk factors for hand eczema. The results support the implication of Cd and Ca, which were detected on the inner faces of the gloves, to the toxicity to the skin.