Response to Metol "posioning"?

The only time I ever got a rash from photo chemicals was 30 years ago when I worked in a commercial microfilm darkroom and had my hands in the soup several times per day. I always assumed the rash was from metol in the developer. I started wearing gloves and the problem went away and has not recurred. These days I occasionally get fingers and thumbs in various chemicals, but the only effect seems to be dry, chapped skin. I'm careful to wear gloves with chemicals that are known to be toxic: amidol, pyro, bleaches, toners. I use Ansco 120 a lot, which is a metol-only developer, and do not get a rash from handling it, though I do try to minimize direct contact. Perhaps the Agfa rep can tell us if Multicontrast developer has metol in it (what does it say on the package?).

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