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Work‐related skin disease in the plastics industry
Author(s) -
Socie Edward M.,
Gromen Keith D.,
Migliozzi Adeline A.,
Geidenberger Connie A.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199705)31:5<545::aid-ajim7>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - medicine , hand eczema , occupational medicine , incidence (geometry) , occupational exposure , disease , occupational disease , epidemiology , dermatology , environmental health , contact dermatitis , allergy , immunology , optics , physics
In a survey of a representative sample of workers taken at each of four different plastics manufacturers, 122 completed self‐administered questionnaires were obtained. Twenty‐six respondents (21.3%) met the case definition for having a work‐related skin disorder during the preceding year. Sixteen (61.5%) cases indicated that their skin problems were present for 11 or more days, and 50% reported that their normal daily activities were at least somewhat affected. Risk of disease was elevated for workers who reported skin contact with formaldehyde (OR = 3.30; 95% CI = 1.02–10.69) or with polyvinylchlorides (PVCs) or their prescursors (OR = 4.08; CI = 1.19–14.06), used barrier creams (OR = 4.51; CI = 1.22–16.68), were female (OR = 5.42; CI = 0.97–30.22), were 35 or younger (OR = 4.65; CI = 1.53–14.19), and for each use of hand cleaner at work (OR = 1.22; CI = 1.05–1.41). These findings should be considered when designing programs to reduce the incidence of skin disease among workers in the plastics industry. Am. J. Ind. Med. 31:545–550, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.