Contact eczema caused by pesticides in East Germany

: 19 allergic, occupational contact eczemas and 1 irrative contact dermatitis caused by pesticides from 1985-86 in the GDR are described. The 20 casuistic reports are supplemented with data concerning age, sex, exposure time, patch-test results, occupation site and dermatological details. The following pesticides were determined: maneb, zineb, mancozeb, propineb, thiram, demephion, dimethoate, propachlor, metham-Na, benomyl, chloralhydrate with chloralmethylhalbacetal, carbaryl, dinocap captan, phenyl-Hg-acetate and trichlodinitrobenzene. Each individual case adhered to the recommended test concentration for skin tests. Contact eczemas brought about by the pesticides demephion and trichlordinitrobenzene have not yet to be described. Those working in gardening seem to be particularly prone.