Skin hazards in workers cultivating okra(Hibiscus esculentus Linn) / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

The outbreak of skin hazards from okra cultivation was studied by a field survey. About a half (46.2 %) of 186 workers investigated (male, 76 ; female, 110) reported to have experienced pastly or annually skin hazards from okra cultivation.The sites of lesion complained were mostly the arms (47.5%), neck (41.3%), fingers (32.5%) and so forth in total number. The degree of lesions were generally itching (85.0%) and flare (61.3%), but severe cases like vanishing fingerprints (16.3%) and fissures on the fingers (11.3 %) were also revealed. Portion of okra responsible for skin hazards seemed to be mainly leaves, trichomes and pods.<BR>Positive patch test reactions with preparations of immature okra pods in 46 workers (male, 12 ; female, 34), compared to 112 control subjects (male, 84 ; female, 28), were significantly higher in okra workers than in controls, which were 25% in males and 20% in total group.<BR>These results show that okra components cause irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis as well.