title: Water exposure--challenging differences between occupations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have compared water exposure between different occupations in the general population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate and compare the extent of occupational water exposure, with a focus on service, healthcare and production occupations previously classified as involving a high risk for hand eczema.
  
  
  METHODS
  In two public health surveys (2006 and 2010), a validated question regarding occupational water exposure was answered by 18 342 and 15,736 gainfully employed individuals, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exposure for ≥ 0.5 h/day was reported by 17.5% and 16.3% (p = 0.020) for the respective years, and exposure for > 2 h/day by 7.8% and 7.7% (p = 0.73). Exposure in women was almost twice as high as in men for both years (p ≤ 0.001) and exposure levels (p < 0.001). Exposure for > 2 h/day was more common in high-risk occupations in service and healthcare than in non-high-risk occupations [prevalence proportion ratios of 16.7 (95%CI: 14.0-20.0) and 8.3 (95%CI: 6.9-9.9), respectively]. Exposure was highest in service occupations, where 44.6% reported exposure for > 2 h/day in 2010, and kitchen work, cleaning and hairdressing dominated. In healthcare, the corresponding figure was 22.0%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Challenging differences in water exposure between occupational groups were found, and extensive water exposure was reported in a number of occupations previously classified as involving a high risk for hand eczema.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Birgitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meding
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Solna, Centre for Pharmaco-Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ingegärd
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Anveden Berglind
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alderling
authors.affiliation: Unit of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gunborg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lindahl
authors.affiliation: Unit of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wrangsjö
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000209:etiology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009790:Occupations; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014867:Water
keywords: general population; hand eczema; high-risk occupations; prevalence proportion ratios; wet work