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 irritability (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. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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 irritability (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. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Authors: M A Hughes; M Carson; M A Collins; A T Jolly; D M Molenaar; W Steffens; G M H Swaen Journal: Clin Toxicol (Phila) Date: 2014-03-19 Impact factor: 4.467