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Water exposure – challenging differences between occupations
Author(s) -
Meding Birgitta,
Anveden Berglind Ingegärd,
Alderling Magnus,
Lindahl Gunborg,
Wrangsjö Karin
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
contact dermatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0536
pISSN - 0105-1873
DOI - 10.1111/cod.12479
Subject(s) - medicine , occupational exposure , dermatology , environmental health
Summary Background Few studies have compared water exposure between different occupations in the general population. Objectives To investigate and compare the extent of occupational water exposure, with a focus on service, healthcare and production occupations previously classified as involving a high risk for hand eczema. Methods In two public health surveys (2006 and 2010), a validated question regarding occupational water exposure was answered by 18 342 and 15 736 gainfully employed individuals, respectively. Results Exposure for ≥ 0.5 h/day was reported by 17.5% and 16.3% ( p = 0.020) for the respective years, and exposure for > 2 h/day by 7.8% and 7.7% ( p = 0.73). Exposure in women was almost twice as high as in men for both years ( p ≤ 0.001) and exposure levels ( p < 0.001). Exposure for > 2 h/day was more common in high‐risk occupations in service and healthcare than in non‐high‐risk occupations [prevalence proportion ratios of 16.7 (95%CI: 14.0–20.0) and 8.3 (95%CI: 6.9–9.9), respectively]. Exposure was highest in service occupations, where 44.6% reported exposure for > 2 h/day in 2010, and kitchen work, cleaning and hairdressing dominated. In healthcare, the corresponding figure was 22.0%. Conclusions Challenging differences in water exposure between occupational groups were found, and extensive water exposure was reported in a number of occupations previously classified as involving a high risk for hand eczema.