Background :
@EN Occupational skin disease in one of the most prevalent occupational health problems, resulting in long period of discomfort and loss of earning. The size of the problem is probably underestimated and no exact datas are available about the
prevalence
of skin problems in metal workers(MWs) exposed to metal working fluid(MWF).
@ES Objective :
@EN This study was done to determine the prevalence of skin abnormalities in relation to exposure to MWF.
Materials & Methods : An epidemiological study was performed using questionnaire in 771 workers in 9 departments of motor company. A questionnaire was designed to ascertain information adout working procedures, the way of handling MWF, degreasers
and
soap, the extent and duration of individual exposure, and any history of dermatoses. 278 workers out of 771 workers are actually contacted with MWF. A selection was made on 315 metal workers who have experienced past or present dermatitis in
questionnaire. A detailed history from each workers via inter view with 315 workers about past or present occupational exposure, dermatoses, atopy and injury preceded a dermatolohgical examination by dermatologist.
Patch test : Patch tests were performed in 73 metal workers who wee suspectied dermatitis in felation to exposure of MWF during interviews and dermatologic examination. Patch tests were included with a routine series and common components of MWF
(material obtained from chemotechnique, sweden) and solvent series. Workers were also tested with the various crude metalworking fluids(8 species). The concentrations of crude MWFs were determined after testing the various dilutions of MWF.
@ES Results :
@EN 1. Out of 278 metalworkers who exposed to MWF. Dermatitis was detected in 106 metalworkers(38%) primary irritant dermatitis was established in 92 persons(3% of 278 metalworkers) and allergic contavt dermatitis in 14 persons(5% of 278
metalworkers).
2. Workers with exposure to soluble oil snowed primary irritant contact dermatitis significantly more often tan workers exposed with neat oil(p<0.05).
3. Workers with frequent or variable exposure to soluble oil showed primary irritant dermatitis significantly more often than did workers with infrequent exposure(p<0.05).
4. The occurrence of primary irritant dermatitis showed a tendency towards a higher incidence of primary irritant dermatitis relation to duration of work.(p<0.05, XD2-test for linear trend)
5. Primary irritant dermatitis was significantly more often present in atopics than in nonatopics (p<0.05).
6. The severity of primary irritant dermatitis was not significantly influenced by the type of MWF or the extent of exposure
7. Exposure to soluble oils lead more often to the occurrence of chronic paronychia than exposure to neat oil(p<0.05).
8. The occurrence of acne & folliculitis was more often in metal workers exposed to neat oil than soluble oil.
@ES Conclusion :
@EN The results showed that primary irritant dermatitis was the most common skin disorder of workers handling MWF and the prevalence of primary irritant dermatitis had a correlation with the types of MWF, the frequency and the duration of
exposure
to
MWF and atopy history of each workers. Although the prevalence was low, other occupational skin problems-chronic paronychia, oil acne, folliculitis-were showed. Oil acne and folliculitis chiefly developed in workers handling insoluble0MWF and
chronic
paronychia chiefly developed in workers handling soluble0MWF. (Kor J Dermatol 1996;34(3) : 407~414)
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