BACKGROUND: Diseases of the skin are important and often preventable conditions occurring among workers with dermal exposures to irritant and sensitizing agents. OBJECTIVE: We conducted this analysis to assess the associations between metalworking exposures and current and persistent skin symptoms among male and female participants in two population-based epidemiologic studies. METHODS: We pooled data from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II (ECRHS II) and the Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart Disease in Adults 2 (SAPALDIA 2), two prospective cohort studies in Europe. Each participant completed interviewer-administered questionnaires to provide information about symptoms and exposures related to selected occupations, including metalworking, during the follow-up periods. We assessed associations between skin symptoms and the frequency of metalworking exposures among 676 ECRHS II/SAPALDIA 2 respondents. RESULTS: Current skin symptoms were reported by 10% of metalworkers and were associated with frequent use, defined as four or more days per week, of oil-based metalworking fluids [prevalence ratio (PR): 1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.25-2.49)] and organic solvent/degreasing agents (PR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.21-3.50). CONCLUSIONS: Skin symptom prevalence is associated with increasing frequency of oil-based metalworking fluid and degreasing agent use. Our findings justify assessing strategies for reducing the frequency of metal-related exposures.
BACKGROUND: Diseases of the skin are important and often preventable conditions occurring among workers with dermal exposures to irritant and sensitizing agents. OBJECTIVE: We conducted this analysis to assess the associations between metalworking exposures and current and persistent skin symptoms among male and female participants in two population-based epidemiologic studies. METHODS: We pooled data from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II (ECRHS II) and the Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart Disease in Adults 2 (SAPALDIA 2), two prospective cohort studies in Europe. Each participant completed interviewer-administered questionnaires to provide information about symptoms and exposures related to selected occupations, including metalworking, during the follow-up periods. We assessed associations between skin symptoms and the frequency of metalworking exposures among 676 ECRHS II/SAPALDIA 2 respondents. RESULTS: Current skin symptoms were reported by 10% of metalworkers and were associated with frequent use, defined as four or more days per week, of oil-based metalworking fluids [prevalence ratio (PR): 1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.25-2.49)] and organic solvent/degreasing agents (PR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.21-3.50). CONCLUSIONS: Skin symptom prevalence is associated with increasing frequency of oil-based metalworking fluid and degreasing agent use. Our findings justify assessing strategies for reducing the frequency of metal-related exposures.
Authors: Elke Weisshaar; Magdalena Radulescu; Michael Bock; Ursel Albrecht; Thomas L Diepgen Journal: Contact Dermatitis Date: 2006-05 Impact factor: 6.600
Authors: B W Martin; U Ackermann-Liebrich; P Leuenberger; N Künzli; E Z Stutz; R Keller; J P Zellweger; B Wüthrich; C Monn; K Blaser; G Bolognini; J P Bongard; O Brändli; P Braun; C Defila; G Domenighetti; L Grize; W Karrer; H Keller-Wossidlo; T C Medici; A Peeters; A P Perruchoud; C Schindler; M H Schoeni; B Villiger Journal: Soz Praventivmed Date: 1997
Authors: Ursula Ackermann-Liebrich; Birgit Kuna-Dibbert; Nicole M Probst-Hensch; Christian Schindler; Denise Felber Dietrich; Elisabeth Zemp Stutz; Lucy Bayer-Oglesby; Felix Baum; Otto Brändli; Martin Brutsche; Sara H Downs; Dirk Keidel; Margaret W Gerbase; Medea Imboden; Roland Keller; Bruno Knöpfli; Nino Künzli; Laurent Nicod; Marco Pons; Patricia Staedele; Jean-Marie Tschopp; Jean-Pierre Zellweger; Philippe Leuenberger Journal: Soz Praventivmed Date: 2005
Authors: Thomas L Diepgen; Gitte Jacobsen; Kurt Rasmussen; Anne Bregnhøj; Marléne Isaksson; Ole Carstensen Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2021-10-19 Impact factor: 3.015