The incidence of occupational asthma and rhinitis in apprentice bakers is high and increases z with the duration of exposure. Skin reactivity to common and occupational allergens is the main risk factor of bakers' asthma. Most cases of work-related respiratory symptoms among apprentice bakers are related to a specific sensitization. In most subjects who developed occupational asthma, rhinitis occurred at the same time as the chest symptoms did.

Chlorhexidine is a low molecular weight occupational sensitizer that can cause different delayed and immediate-type allergic reactions including anaphylaxis. It is widely used as an antiseptic and disinfectant and not only in the occupational environment as it is present in toothpaste, mouthwash, nose and eye drops and ointments. We present three cases of occupationally exposed workers with airway allergy to chlorhexidine. The role of chlorhexidine as an occupational allergen was confirmed by placebo-controlled specific inhalative challenge tests monitored by spirometry and analysis of induced sputum (influx of eosinophils after provocation has been observed). One of these patients presented with a systemic reaction with ordinary environment exposure. These findings are a reminder to clinicians of chlorhexidine's ability to cause various hypersensitivity reactions and the potential risk of this widely used antiseptic.

Background. Contact allergy among adolescents is an important issue. Objectives. To assess the prevalence of contact allergy to metals in adolescents aged 15 years and nickel release from metal accessories that are in direct contact with the skin. Methods. Three hundred and nine females and 219 males, all 15 years old, from randomly selected secondary schools were examined and patch tested with nickel sulfate, cobalt chloride, palladium chloride, and potassium dichromate. Three hundred and ninety‐nine metal accessories were tested with the dimethylglyoxime (DMG) test. Results.‘Metal dermatitis' was reported by 19.4% of females and 0.5% of males. Positive patch test reactions were found in 8.5% of the adolescents (12.9% in females; 2.3% in males), namely to: nickel (12.3% of females; 1.4% of males); palladium (5.2% of females; 0.5% of males); cobalt (3.2% of females; 1.4% of males); and chromium (1.3% of females; 0.9% of males). Allergic contact dermatitis caused by metals was diagnosed in 9.7% of females and in 0.5% of males. Of the metal items, 26.1% gave positive DMG test results: 10.0% of earrings, 11.4% of snaps, and 56.2% of belt buckles. Conclusions. Despite the implementation of the Nickel Directive in Poland, nickel still remains an important causal factor for allergic contact dermatitis. Numerous metal accessories do not comply with the Directive.

The nasal challenge test appears to be useful for diagnosing occupational rhinitis in NRL-sensitized patients.

The results indicate the immunologic mechanism of GA-induced asthma and the applicability of the "nasal pool" technique as the diagnostic procedure in GA-induced airway allergy.