Prevalence of neuropsychiatric and mucous membrane irritation complaints among Palestinian shoe factory workers exposed to organic solvents and plastic compounds.
BACKGROUND
Long-term exposure to organic solvents is associated with neuropsychiatric and mucus membrane irritation. In developing countries, efforts to secure a good working environment are inadequate and protection against chemical exposures is often neglected.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional survey, the prevalence of self-reported health complaints and the association with long-term exposure to solvents and plastic materials in the work environment was studied among 167 shoe-factory workers. Prevalences and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR)were calculated in Cox regression. 95% confidence intervals were estimated for PRs of adverse health effects.


RESULTS
Overall, the workers reported high prevalences of neuropsychiatric and mucus membrane complaints: headache (65%), mental irritability (53%), tingling of limbs (46%), and sore eyes (43%). Cleaning work was associated with tingling of limbs (PR = 1.8, 1.0-3.2), sore eyes (PR = 1.9, 1.1-3.3), and breathing difficulty (PR = 2.0, 1.0-3.9); plastic work was associated with tingling of limbs (PR = 1.8, 1.2-2.9)and sore eyes (PR = 1.7, 1.1-2.7); and varnishing was associated with breathing difficulty (PR = 1.9, 1.1-3.5).


CONCLUSIONS
The high prevalence of self-reported health complaints and the exposure-outcome association could be due to volatile organic solvents (dichloromethane, n-hexane)and plastic compounds (isocyanates and polyvinyl chloride). Absence of a satisfactory work environment is likely to contribute to high exposure levels.
Nijem
K
K
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hebron University, Hebron, West Bank Palestinian Authority, Via Israel.
Kristensen
P
P
Al-Khatib
A
A
Takrori
F
F
Bjertness
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006306:Health Surveys; D006586:Hexanes / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008752:Methylene Chloride / Q000009:adverse effects; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000187:drug effects*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009790:Occupations; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride / Q000009:adverse effects; D012775:Shoes; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014050:Toluene / Q000009:adverse effects
D006586:Hexanes; D012997:Solvents; C026385:n-hexane; D014050:Toluene; D008752:Methylene Chloride; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride