title: Occupational exposure to acid mists and periodontal attachment loss.
abstract: This study investigated the hypotheses that occupational exposure to acid mists is positively associated with periodontal disease, assessed by periodontal attachment loss. The study sample included 530 male workers at a metal processing factory. Data were obtained from interviews and oral examinations. Periodontal attachment loss was defined as >or= 4mm at probing, in at least one tooth. A job exposure matrix was utilized for exposure evaluation. Exposure to acid mists was positively associated with periodontal attachment loss >or= 4mm at any time (prevalence ratio, PR(adjusted) = 2.17), past (PR(adjusted) = 2.11), and over 6 years of exposure (PR(adjusted) = 1.77), independently of age, alcohol consumption, and smoking, and these results were limited to workers who did not use dental floss. Exposure to acid mists is a potential risk factor for periodontal attachment loss, and further studies are needed, using longitudinal designs and more accurate exposure measures.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brasil. tatifrederico@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Tatiana F de
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Maria Isabel P
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Vianna
authors.forename: Vilma S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Santana
authors.forename: Isaac S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Gomes Filho
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000633:toxicity*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000143:Acids