title: [Characterization of severe acute occupational poisoning accidents related to organic solvents in China between 1989 and 2003].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze severe acute occupational poisoning accidents related to organic solvents reported in China between 1989 and 2003, and to study the characteristics of severe acute occupational poisoning accidents and provide scientific evidences for prevention and control strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data from the national occupational poisoning case reporting system were analyzed with descriptive methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) There were 58 severe acute occupational poisoning accidents related to organic solvents for 15 years with 393 workers poisoned and 48 workers died. The total poisoning rate was 51.2%, and the total mortality was 12.2%. The average poisoning age was (30.9 +/- 8.8) years old and the average death age was (30.6 +/- 12.0) years old. (2) There were 11 types of chemicals that caused these poisoning accidents, and most of the accidents were caused by benzene and homologs. (3) Most of the accidents occurred in manufacture, chemical industry, construction industry, transportation and storage industry, service and commerce. The risk was higher in some jobs than in others, such as paint spraying and cleanout. The poisoning accidents occurred more frequently from April to July each year. (4) The main causes of the accidents were poor ventilation (23.6%), lack of personal protection equipment (21.2%), lack of safety education (19.2%), and lack of safety work practice (15.8%) etc.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ventilation at the workplace involved in organic solvents should be maintained and the skin contacting directly with the organic solvents should be avoided, and it is encouraged to replace the poison with the nontoxic or lower toxic chemicals.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China.
authors.forename: Huan-Qiang
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hong-Fei
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shu-Yang
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xie-Yi
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qin
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000328:Adult; D001554:Benzene / Q000506:poisoning; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000506:poisoning*; D010150:Paint / Q000506:poisoning; D012997:Solvents / Q000506:poisoning*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012997:Solvents; D001554:Benzene