Birgitta Meding1, Ingegärd Anveden Berglind2, Magnus Alderling3, Gunborg Lindahl1, Karin Wrangsjö1. 1. Unit of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden. 2. Department of Medicine, Solna, Centre for Pharmaco-Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden. 3. Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract
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.
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.
Authors: Tamara Lund; Esben Meulengrath Flachs; Niels Erik Ebbehøj; Jens Peter Bonde; Tove Agner Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2018-11-16 Impact factor: 3.015
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