title: Work-related skin disease in the plastics industry.
abstract: In a survey of a representative sample of workers taken at each of four different plastics manufacturers, 122 completed self-administered questionnaires were obtained. Twenty-six respondents (21.3%) met the case definition for having a work-related skin disorder during the preceding year. Sixteen (61.5%) cases indicated that their skin problems were present for 11 or more days, and 50% reported that their normal daily activities were at least somewhat affected. Risk of disease was elevated for workers who reported skin contact with formaldehyde (OR = 3.30; 95% CI = 1.02-10.69) or with polyvinyl-chlorides (PVCs) or their precursors (OR = 4.08; CI = 1.19-14.06), used barrier creams (OR = 4.51; CI = 1.22-16.68), were female (OR = 5.42; CI = 0.97-30.22), were 35 or younger (OR = 4.65; CI = 1.53-14.19), and for each use of hand cleaner at work (OR = 1.22; CI = 1.05-1.41). These findings should be considered when designing programs to reduce the incidence of skin disease among workers in the plastics industry.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Health Section, Ohio Department of Health, Columbus 43266-0118, USA.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Socie
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Gromen
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Migliozzi
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Geidenberger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000009:adverse effects; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D010969:Plastics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D005557:Formaldehyde; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride