Hand eczema and skin complaints in particulate matter-exposed occupations - firefighters, chimney sweepers, and ferrosilicon smelter workers in Norway.

This study reports a more than four-fold increased risk of hand eczema in smelter workers, and possibly a higher risk of skin complaints in other body locations, compared to the other occupations. Longitudinal studies with larger population are needed to verify the marked increased risk of eczema among smelters and establish causation.