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Prevalence of neuropsychiatric and mucous membrane irritation complaints among Palestinian shoe factory workers exposed to organic solvents and plastic compounds
Author(s) -
Nijem Khaldoun,
Kristensen Petter,
AlKhatib Awni,
Takrori Fahed,
Bjertness Espen
Publication year - 2001
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/ajim.1087
Subject(s) - medicine , irritation , sore throat , tingling , eye irritation , confidence interval , burning sensation , dermatology , surgery , immunology
Background Long‐term exposure to organic solvents is associated with neuropsychiatric and mucus membrane irritation. In developing countries, efforts to secure a good working environment are inadequate and protection against chemical exposures is often neglected. Methods In a cross‐sectional survey, the prevalence of self‐reported health complaints and the association with long‐term exposure to solvents and plastic materials in the work environment was studied among 167 shoe‐factory workers. Prevalences and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR)were calculated in Cox regression. 95% confidence intervals were estimated for PRs of adverse health effects. Results Overall, the workers reported high prevalences of neuropsychiatric and mucus membrane complaints: headache (65%), mental irritabilit (53%), tingling of limbs (46%), and sore eyes (43%). Cleaning work was associated with tingling of limbs (PR = 1.8, 1.0–3.2), sore eyes (PR = 1.9, 1.1–3.3), and breathing difficulty (PR = 2.0, 1.0–3.9); plastic work was associated with tingling of limbs (PR = 1.8, 1.2–2.9)and sore eyes (PR = 1.7, 1.1–2.7); and varnishing was associated with breathing difficulty (PR = 1.9, 1.1–3.5). Conclusions The high prevalence of self‐reported health complaints and the exposure‐outcome association could be due to volatile organic solvents (dichloromethane, n‐hexane)and plastic compounds (isocyanates and polyvinyl chloride). Absence of a satisfactory work environment is likely to contribute to high exposure levels. Am. J. Ind. Med. 40:192–198, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.