title: Occupational skin disease in newspaper pressroom workers.
abstract: Studies of printing industry tradespeople have reported an increased problem of dermatologic abnormalities, including contact dermatitis and dermatitis attributed to solvent exposure. The current cross-sectional health survey of dermatological conditions were conducted in a follow-up of perceived skin abnormalities among newspaper pressroom workers. We surveyed 215 pressroom workers and 34 compositors at a large northeastern US newspaper printing facility. Our findings indicate that printing pressroom workers reported skin condition symptoms at a significantly higher rate than did the compositor referent group. Pressroom workers also were found to be at a significantly elevated risk of developing dermatitis after self-reported exposure to certain commonly used solvents. This emphasizes the need for proper work practices, product substitution where possible, and appropriate protective glove use by newspaper pressroom workers.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Health Program, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yakes
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Kelsey
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seitz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Christiani
mesh_terms: D015984:Causality; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009511:New England; D009524:Newspapers as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents