| Self-reported skin problems among physical processors in the chemical industry in Great Britain. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 11235822 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Contact dermatitis is common in the chemical industry. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of self-reported skin problems in employees involved in the drying, blending, milling, grinding and filling/bagging end of chemical manufacture in small- to medium-sized contract manufacturing/processing chemical companies in Great Britain. There were several secondary aims. Twenty-three per cent of the employees interviewed reported having had a skin problem in the previous 12 months. Of those reporting problems, 46% were always/nearly always involved in blending and 56% were always/nearly always involved in filling and bagging. These same processes were also more commonly associated with continuous or recurring skin problems. Seventy-five per cent reported a problem involving the upper limbs; most had more than one body area affected. Forty-three per cent had consulted a doctor (67% their general practitioner) and 9% took time off work as a result of their skin condition. Skin problems seemed to peak (34% employees) in those who had spent between 1 and 2 years in their current job. Solvents, known skin irritants, were the most frequent, single category of chemicals encountered in the study. Over 92% had been told how to avoid skin problems; 85% reported that they always/almost always wore protective clothing. Despite these measures, a significant number had reported having had a skin problem related to their work in the previous 12 months. Particular attention to control measures based on risk assessment is recommended for these physical processors in the chemical industry. Further research is also recommended into the whole area of personal protective clothing and the individual worker's perception of risks to health in the workplace. |
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Authors:
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D Sen; D McElvenny; R Thomas |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Occupational medicine (Oxford, England) Volume: 51 ISSN: 0962-7480 ISO Abbreviation: Occup Med (Lond) Publication Date: 2001 Feb |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2001-03-08 Completed Date: 2001-08-09 Revised Date: 2004-11-17 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9205857 Medline TA: Occup Med (Lond) Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 12-24 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Employment Medical Advisory Service, Health and Safety Executive, Manchester, UK. dil.sen@hse.gsi.gov.uk |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adult Chemical Industry* Cross-Sectional Studies Dermatitis, Contact / epidemiology, etiology*, prevention & control Female Great Britain / epidemiology Hazardous Substances / adverse effects* Humans Male Occupational Exposure / adverse effects* Protective Clothing / utilization Questionnaires Registries Risk Assessment |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Hazardous Substances |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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