Solvent Exposures at Shoe Factories and Workshops in Hebron City,West Bank

Abstract

Exposure to organic solvents has been reported to increase the risks for acute and chronic health effects among shoe industry workers. In developing countries, protection against chemical exposures is often not provided. The study was conducted to identify working conditions and estimate the concentrations of organic solvents used in shoe factories and workshops in Hebron City. Personal interviews containing questions related to personal protective equipment (PPE) were used to identify working conditions, and samples collected from factories and workshops were analyzed using gas chromatography. Geometric means (GMs) were calculated for the solvents. Six major organic solvents were detected in the factories. Acetone (GM = 51.5 mg/m³, GSD = 3.82) was common in gluing tasks. Dichloromethane (GM = 47 mg/m³, GSD = 2.62) was common in cleaning tasks. Heptane, methylethyl ketone, n-hexane, and toluene were common in gluing tasks. Four major organic solvents were detected in the workshops: acetone (GM = 32.3 mg/m³, GSD = 6.33), toluene (GM = 70.3 mg/m³, GSD = 3.06), nhexane (GM = 19.4 mg/m³, GSD = 2.65), and methylethyl ketone (GM = 130 mg/m³, GSD = 1.5). 81% of the factory workers had never used respiratory protective equipment, and 92% had never used work clothes. 97% of the workers in the workshops had never used respiratory protective equipment, 94% had never worn gloves, and 90% had never used work clothes. Exposures to solvents in the absence of personal Protective equipment, tasks barriers, and mechanical ventilation can adversely affect health.     

Prevalence of self-reported health complaints among shoe workers of small workshop exposed to organic solvents in Hebron City, West Bank: a cross-sectional survey

The study was conducted to estimate the prevalences of neurological disorders and mucous membrane irritation complaints among workers of shoe workshops in Hebron City, in particular to measure the associations between the occurrence of symptoms indicating polyneuropathy among workers and exposure to organic solvents in the glueing tasks. A group of 103 male workers from 30 workshops, exposed to organic solvents for more than one year were recruited to the study during the years 1996-1997. A validated Swedish neuropsychiatric questionnaire which contained questions on neurological and mucous irritation symptoms was used. Prevalence ratios were used as an indicator for relative risk. The overall prevalence of painful tingling of limbs (used as indicator of polyneuropathy) was high among the workshop workers (40%) and was significantly associated with long term exposure to organic solvents in glueing tasks (PR 2.8: 95% CI 1.0-8.3). Moderate associations were seen in other tasks. Headache and mental irritability did not show any association with organic solvent exposure in the workshop tasks. Breathing difficulty showed a moderate non-significant association with long term exposure to organic solvents (72 months) in cleaning tasks (1.9,0.7-4.8), while sore eyes also showed a moderate non-significant association with exposure to organic solvents for 25-72 months in the glueing tasks. Long term exposure to n-hexane (mainly found in the glues) could be the main cause of polyneuropathy among the workers of Hebron shoe workshops. The absence of effective ventilation systems and personal protective equipment might increase the prevalence of polyneuropathy among these workers. In conclusion, glues containing high concentrations of n-hexane are still in use in many shoe workshops in Hebron City (as well as in other developing countries), and long term exposure to n-hexane in glueing compounds could result in polyneuropathy among the workers. However, in the absence of objective measurements our results must be interpreted with caution. Well planned longitudinal studies with objective measures of exposure and disease are important for future research in developing countries.     

Shoe manufacturing and solvent exposure in northern Portugal

Shoe manufacturing is a traditional industry in northern Portugal. There are nearly 1500 factories that employ about 54,000 workers. Among the materials used in the shoe manufacturing process, that could be occupational hazards, are the adhesives, especially adhesives solutions based on organic solvents. The National Institute of Health (Oporto Branch) carried out a study of 100 factories in northern Portugal to study solvent exposure in shoe manufacturing. The surveyed population, (4615 workers) was young (mean age = 33 years; range = 18-45) and predominantly female (68.5%). The results from the air samples analyses show 20 different organic compounds existing in the workplaces. The more common compounds found were n-hexane, toluene, and acetone. The results of the study show that in 53.7 percent of the factories there are operations where the solvent exposure is significant and represents a health hazard to the workers. These operations are mainly gluing, waxing, and polishing stations. Occupational risk of exposure to solvents concerned 44.2 percent of the workers. This study points out the existence of inadequate ventilation in the workplaces and inappropriate personal protective equipment to prevent dermatitis risk from adhesives, wax, and polish. The organic solvents present in workplaces also increase fire risk.     

Urinary excretion of the metabolites of n-hexane and its isomers during occupational exposure.

Environmental exposure to commercial hexane (n-hexane, 2-methylpentane, and 3-methylpentane) was tested in several work places in five shoe factories by taking three grap-air samples during the afternoon shift. Individual exposure ranges were 32-500 mg/m3 for n-hexane, 11-250 mg/m3 for 2-methylpentane, and 10-204 mg/m3 for 3-methylpentane. The metabolites of commercial hexane in the urine of 41 workers were measured at the end of the work shift. 2-Hexanol, 2,5-hexanedione, 2,5-dimethylfuran, and gamma-valerolactone were found as n-hexane metabolites and 2-methyl-2-pentanol and 3-methyl-2-pentanol as 2-methylpentane and 3-methylpentane metabolites. The presence of metabolites in the urine was correlated with occupational exposure to solvents. n-Hexane exposure was correlated more positively with 2-hexanol and 2,5-hexanedione than with 2,5-dimethylfuran and gamma-valerolactone. A good correlation was also found between total n-hexane metabolites and n-hexane exposure. 2-Methyl-2-pentanol and 3-methyl-2-pentanol were highly correlated with 2-methylpentane and 3-methylpentane exposure. The results suggest that the urinary excretion of hexane metabolites may be used for monitoring occupational exposure to n-hexane and its isomers.     

Cotton dust and endotoxin levels in three Shanghai textile factories: a comparison of samplers

The results of a field survey at three Shanghai textile factories were used to compare the performance of the Chinese dust sampler (CDS) with the standard American sampler, vertical elutriator (VE). Side-by-side samples using a CDS and a VE were collected in seven specific manufacturing processes, with additional area and personal samples collected with a modified Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) personal inhalable sampler. Filters were analyzed for mass and endotoxin concentration. The geometric mean (GM) of the samples collected by the CDS was 0.79 mg/m3 (geometric standard deviation [GSD] 1.9) compared with a GM of 0.31 mg/m3 (GSD 1.7) for the VE measurements. The correlation coefficient for the CDS and VE samples was 0.35. The CDS, a high-volume total dust area sampler, collects 2 to 10 times more dust than the VE, a size-selective method, depending on the manufacturing process. In spinning at Factory A, the VE and CDS measured concentrations of 0.15 mg/m3 and 1.62 mg/m3, respectively. Cotton dust concentration measurements collected by the IOM sampler demonstrated that personal exposure concentrations were significantly higher (GM 1.84 mg/m3, GSD 1.6) than fixed-position area samples (GM 0.68 mg/m3, GSD 1.9). The endotoxin concentration based on the VE samples was 366 EU/m3, with the highest levels found in the specific manufacturing process drawing (1871 EU/m3) and the lowest in spinning (43.5 EU/m3). The results of the field comparison were used to convert historic CDS data into comparable exposures and to assign retrospective exposures to subjects included in a case-cohort study of lung cancer among female textile workers in Shanghai.     

Respiratory symptoms and occupational exposures in New Zealand plywood mill workers

OBJECTIVES: To study work exposure and respiratory symptoms in New Zealand plywood mill workers. METHODS: Personal inhalable dust (n = 57), bacterial endotoxin (n = 20), abietic acid (n = 20), terpene (n = 20) and formaldehyde (n = 22) measurements were taken and a respiratory health questionnaire was administered to 112 plywood mill workers. RESULTS: Twenty-six percent of the dust exposures exceeded 1 mg/m(3), however, none of the samples exceeded the legal limit of 5 mg/m(3) [geometric mean (GM) = 0.7 mg/m(3), geometric standard deviation (GSD) = 1.9]. Workers in the composer area (where broken sheets are joined together) were significantly (P < 0.01) more highly exposed. Endotoxin levels were low to moderate (GM = 23.0 EU/m(3), GSD = 2.8). Abietic acid levels ranged from 0.3 to 2.4 micro g/m(3) (GM = 0.7 micro g/m(3), GSD = 1.8) and were significantly (P < 0.05) higher for workers in the composer area of the process. Geometric mean levels of alpha-pinene, beta-pinene and Delta(3)-carene were 1.0 (GSD = 2.7), 1.5 (GSD = 2.8) and 0.1 (GSD = 1.4), respectively, and alpha-pinene and beta-pinene levels were significantly (P < 0.001) higher for workers in the 'green end' of the process, up to and including the veneer dryers. Formaldehyde levels ranged from 0.01 to 0.74 mg/m(3) [GM = 0.08 mg/m(3) (= 0.06 p.p.m.), GSD = 3.0]. Asthma symptoms were more common in plywood mill workers (20.5%, n = 112) than in the general population [12.8%, n = 415, adjusted OR (95% CI) = 1.5 (0.9-2.8)]. Asthma symptoms were associated with duration of employment and were reported to lessen or disappear during holidays. No clear association with any of the measured exposures was found, with the exception of formaldehyde, where workers with high exposure reported more asthma symptoms (36.4%) than low exposed workers [7.9%, adjusted OR (95% CI) = 4.3 (0.7-27.7)]. CONCLUSIONS: Plywood mill workers are exposed to inhalable dust, bacterial endotoxin, abietic acid, terpenes and formaldehyde, and they appear to have an increased risk of developing work-related respiratory symptoms. These symptoms may be due to formaldehyde exposure, although a potential causal role for other exposures cannot be excluded.     

Solvent pollution in shoe factories]

In order to study solvent exposure in shoe factories, 43 kinds of glues and 22 solvent products used in footwear manufacturing were analyzed. A gas chromatographic spectrometric method was used to identify the mixtures of solvents contained in glues and their diluents. Acetone, ethylacetate and cyclohexane were the solvents more frequently found in glues. Cyclohexane represented on average about 40% of the solvent mixture. Methyl ethyl ketone, 3-methylpentane and 2-methylpentane were often present in glues (45-52% of the samples), but only in a few cases were they associated with n-hexane. N-hexane and methylcyclopentane were found in 32% of the glue samples. N-hexane represented 47% of the solvents only in one glue. Most of the glues contained less than 10% n-hexane. Other solvents (dichloropropane, toluene, trichloroethane, butyl acetate, iso-butyl acetate and 2,2-dimethylbutane) were found in few glue samples or in low percentages. The 22 solvents used as glue diluents were mainly acetone, ethylacetate, dichloromethane and methyl ethyl ketone. The results suggest that solvent exposure in shoe factories has changed compared with data reported about 10 years ago. Biological monitoring of shoe factory workers should measure exposures to the specific solvents found in each factory, especially acetone, cyclohexane, ethylacetate and methyl ethyl ketone.     

Self-reported occupational health hazards and measured exposures to airborne impurities and noise in shoe repair work

The authors identified occupational risk factors of shoe repairers and measured their exposures to organic solvents, dust, chromium, degradation products of synthetic shoe materials, and noise. Exposures were measured in 11 shops selected from the workplaces of 82 repairers who responded to a questionnaire about their work environments. The questions dealt with, e.g., chemicals used, work related diseases, perceived hazards in the environment, ventilation, and use of personal protective equipment. Solvent vapor concentration averaged 1.95 (range 0.01-13.2) times the occupational limit (OL) of the mixture during gluing, with higher levels in facilities with no mechanical ventilation. TWA concentrations of organic solvents averaged 0.34 (range 0.01-1.23) times OLs in the breathing-zone samples. Of all shoe repair shops in Finland, 30% had no mechanical ventilation. Concentrations of airborne particles were 0.07-1.01 mg/m3, and those of insoluble and hexavalent chromium 0.10-0.32 and 0.01-0.08 microg/m3, respectively, near roughing, scoring and finishing machines. Several polymer degradation products were present in the air during machining of shoes. Ventilation exchange rates in shops with natural ventilation were less than once/hour. The repairers' average exposure to noise was below 85 dB. They reported many work-related diseases such as rhinitis (prevalence 21%), musculoskeletal disorders (16%), and dermatitis (9%). Measured dust concentrations were low, but the shoe repairers considered dust to be the most common hazard.     

不同职业人群血清PFOS和PFOA负荷水平检测

目的 了解浙江省温州市不同职业人群体内全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)和全氟辛酸(PFOA)的负荷水平。方法 选择制鞋厂职工为全氟化合物暴露组,面砖厂职工为全氟化合物非暴露组,采用液液萃取和高效液相色谱/质谱联用仪选择性监测离子法(PFOS:m/z=499,PFOA:m/z=413),测定目标人群血清中PFOS和PFOA的浓度。结果 制鞋厂工人血清中PFOS的几何均数(G)为10.79μg/L,高于面砖厂的4.93μg/L,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);而制鞋厂工人血清中PFOA的几何均数(G)为2.98μg/L,低于面砖厂的4.85μg/L,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);不同职业人群性别间PFOS和PFOA水平差异无统计学意义;制鞋厂人群<3年和≥3年工龄组间2个物质水平差异亦无统计学意义。结论 无论有无职业性暴露,温州市2种职业人群血清中均可检出PFOS和PFOA。     

Airborne concentrations of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) in North American wood mills during the manufacturing of oriented strand board (OSB)

Air monitoring data were collected from industrial hygiene surveys over an 8-year period in oriented strand board (OSB) mills. Personal samples were taken to evaluate potential employee exposures to MDI. Area samples were taken to determine the effectiveness of control measures used in the mills to prevent fugitive emissions of wood dust, MDI, and MDI-coated wood dust from the OSB manufacturing process. Personal sampling results (578 samples covering 11 different job categories) ranged from 0.0002-0.524 mg/m3, with a GM = 0.001 and GSD = 3.71. Area sampling results (1657 samples covering 14 stationary locations in the mills) ranged from 0.0002-2.5 mg/m3, with a GM = 0.004 and GSD = 5.52. The statistical range of the data suggests high variability. While exposures to MDI above the established limits (0.051 mg/m3, 8-hour time-weighted average, 0.2 mg/m3, ceiling) can and do occur when engineering controls are not maintained and/or proper work practices and personal protective equipment are not followed/used for certain high exposure potential tasks, the data indicate that over 97% of the personal and 92% of the area sampling results are less than 0.051 mg/m3. Wipe testing was performed to determine the presence of removable, unreacted diisocyanates (NCO functional groups)from various surfaces. Positive results were found in about 13% of the wipe tests on surfaces confined to the blender, forming line, and hopper deck process areas.     

Determinants of dust exposure in tunnel construction work

In tunnel construction work, dust is generated from rock drilling, rock bolting, grinding, scaling, and transport operations. Other important dust-generating activities are blasting rock and spraying wet concrete on tunnel walls for strength and finishing work. The aim of this study was to identify determinants of dust exposure in tunnel construction work and to propose control measures. Personal exposures to total dust, respirable dust, and alpha-quartz were measured among 209 construction workers who were divided into 8 job groups performing similar tasks: drill and blast workers, shaft drilling workers, tunnel boring machine workers, shotcreting operators, support workers, concrete workers, outdoor concrete workers, and electricians. Information on determinants was obtained from interviewing the workers, observation by the industrial hygienist responsible for the sampling, and the job site superintendent. Multivariate regression models were used to identify determinants associated with the dust exposures within the job groups. The geometric mean exposure to total dust, respirable dust, and alpha-quartz for all tunnel workers was 3.5 mg/m(3) (GSD = 2.6), 1.2 mg/m(3) (GSD = 2.4), and 0.035 mg/m(3) (GSD = 5.0), respectively. A total of 15 percent of the total dust measurements, 5 percent of the respirable dust, and 21 percent of the alpha-quartz exceeded the Norwegian OELs of 10 mg/m(3), 5 mg/m(3), and 0.1 mg/m(3), respectively. Job groups with highest geometric mean total dust exposure were shotcreting operators (6.8 mg/m(3)), tunnel boring machine workers (6.2 mg/m(3)), and shaft drilling workers (6.1 mg/m(3)). The lowest exposed groups to total dust were outdoor concrete workers (1.0 mg/m(3)), electricians (1.4 mg/m(3)), and support workers (1.9 mg/m(3)). Important determinants of exposure were job group, job site, certain tasks (e.g., drilling and scaling), the presence of a cab, and breakthrough of the tunnel. The use of ventilated, closed cabs appeared to be the single most important control measure for lowering exposures.     

A survey of airborne and skin exposures to chemicals in footwear and equipment factories in Thailand

This research reports on a pilot industrial hygiene study that was performed at four footwear factories and two equipment factories in Thailand. Workers in these factories were exposed through inhalation and dermal contact to a large number of organic vapors from solvents and cements that were hand applied. In addition, these workers were exposed to highly toxic isocyanates primarily through the dermal route. A total of 286 personal air samples were obtained at the four footwear factories using organic vapor monitors; individual job tasks were monitored using a real-time MIRAN Spectrometer. A total of 64 surface, tool, or hand samples were monitored for isocyanates using surface contamination detectors. Real-time measurements were also obtained for organic vapors in two equipment factories. From 8% to 21% of the workers sampled in each footwear factory were overexposed to mixtures of chemicals from solvents and cements. Up to 100% of the workers performing specific job tasks were overexposed to mixtures of chemicals. From 39% to 69% of the surface samples were positive for unreacted isocyanates. Many of the real-time measurements obtained in the equipment factories exceeded occupational exposure limits. Personal protective equipment and engineering controls were inadequate in all of the factories.     

某鞋厂347例接触混合有机溶剂作业工人肝脏B超检查结果分析

目的 探讨长期低浓度接触混合有机溶剂对制鞋作业工人肝脏的影响。 方法 对生产车间使用甲苯、苯、二氯乙烷、正己烷等混合有机溶剂的某鞋业工厂347名工人(接触组)和工厂无毒物接触史后勤人员321人(对照组)进行肝脏B超检查,比较两组检查结果。 结果 生产车间使用的有机溶剂的时间加权平均浓度均未超过职业接触限值。接触组弥漫性肝回声音改变、肝大的检出率均高于对照组,上述指标在两组间比较,差异均有统计学意义(χ2=27.8、12.5,P<0.05)。将两组各分成6个工龄段,弥漫性肝回声改变的检出率在工龄大于等于2年(4个工龄段)的两组员工间比较,差异均有统计学意义(χ2=8.9、10.2、10.2、10.5,P<0.05),两组的异常检出率均随着工龄的增加而升高。 结论 较长时间接触混合有机溶剂对作业工人肝脏可能存在慢性损害,应注意预防。     

Self-reported Occupational Health Hazards and Measured Exposures to Airborne Impurities and Noise in Shoe Repair Work

Abstract

The authors identified occupational risk factors of shoe repairers and measured their exposures to organic solvents, dust, chromium, degradation products of synthetic shoe materials, and noise. Exposures were measured in 11 shops selected from the workplaces of 82 repairers who responded to a questionnaire about their work environments. The questions dealt with, e.g., chemicals used, work related diseases, perceived hazards in the environment, ventilation, and use of personal protective equipment. Solvent vapor concentration averaged 1.95 (range 0.01–13.2) times the occupational limit (OL) of the mixture during gluing, with higher levels in facilities with no mechanical ventilation. TWA concentrations of organic solvents averaged 0.34 (range 0.01–1.23) times OLs in the breathing-zone samples. Of all shoe repair shops in Finland, 30% had no mechanical ventilation. Concentrations of airborne particles were 0.07–1.01 mg/m³, and those of insoluble and hexavalent chromium 0.10–0.32 and 0.01–0.08 μg/m³, respectively, near roughing, scoring and finishing machines. Several polymer degradation products were present in the air during machining of shoes. Ventilation exchange rates in shops with natural ventilation were less than once/hour. The repairers' average exposure to noise was below 85 dB. They reported many work-related diseases such as rhinitis (prevalence 21%), musculoskeletal disorders (16%), and dermatitis (9%). Measured dust concentrations were low, but the shoe repairers considered dust to be the most common hazard.     

An outbreak of N-hexane induced polyneuropathy among press proofing workers in Taipei

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and the etiology of polyneuropathy observed among press proofing workers in Taipei. Neurological examinations of 59 workers, from 16 press proofing factories, were conducted. Fifty-four of those workers subsequently underwent studies of nerve conduction velocities. Samples of bulk solvent from the involved factories were analyzed for their contents using gas chromatography. Fifteen (25%) of the study group were found to have polyneuropathy. All 15 patients with polyneuropathy were from factories in which solvents containing n-hexane were regularly used, and there was a significant association between n-hexane concentration in the bulk samples and prevalence of polyneuropathy. The air concentration of n-hexane in one factory in which all six employees developed polyneuropathy was 190 ppm. Workers who were exposed to n-hexane at air levels of less than 100 ppm but who frequently worked overtime showed a significant slowing of motor nerve conduction velocities on median, ulnar, and peroneal nerves. Of 13 workers who regularly slept in the factory, 12 (92%) had polyneuropathy compared to three (7%) of 46 workers who did not sleep in the factory. The outbreak of polyneuropathy was attributed to a combination of the use of solvents with high contents of n-hexane, poor ventilation, and the practice of sleeping in the factories between shifts.     

Shoe-makers' polyneuropathy in Italy: the aetiological problem.

Since 1957, when the first cases of the so-called shoe-makers' toxic polyneuropathy were reported, nearly 400 cases have been described in the Italian literature. The substance that was considered to be responsible for the disease was triorthocresylphosphate (TOCP) contained in glues, artificial leathers, and some types of paints. However numerous chemical analyses of glues and leathers taken from factories where cases of the disease occurred have shown that in almost all instances little or no TOCP was present. In addition the disease manifests itself more frequently during winter and spring and this is not consistent with the absorption of the causative agent through the skin and/or gastrointestinal tract. In order to clarify the aetiology of the disease 122 workers in the shoe industry affected by toxic polymeuropathy during the period 1971-74 were studied. Workplaces where cases of polyneuropathy had occurred were visited and samples of glues and solvents were taken for chemical analysis. The polyneuropathy chiefly affects workers engaged in glueing and in the cleaning process, but it also affects those who do not have direct contact with glues or solvents. The disease is more common in women (68%) than in men (32%) and, in its more severe form begins with overwhelming prevalence during winter and early spring regardless of the job performed. No direct relationship has been found between the severity of the disease and the number of years of work in the shoe industry or of specific exposure (that is the number of years of work in the activity performed at the onset of the disease). The polyneuropathy is found almost exclusively among workers of the artisam type in small shoe factories, where standards of hygiene are low. Chemical analysis of glues and cleaning fluids collected from five different factories, where 20 cases of polyneuropathy occurred, showed the presence of paraffin hydrocarbons with a low boiling point (pentane, 2-methyl-pentane, 3-methyl-pentane, n-hexane, etc.) in concentrations of more than 80% by weight.     

Shoe-makers'' polyneuropathy in Italy: the aetiological problem.

Since 1957, when the first cases of the so-called shoe-makers' toxic polyneuropathy were reported, nearly 400 cases have been described in the Italian literature. The substance that was considered to be responsible for the disease was triorthocresylphosphate (TOCP) contained in glues, artificial leathers, and some types of paints. However numerous chemical analyses of glues and leathers taken from factories where cases of the disease occurred have shown that in almost all instances little or no TOCP was present. In addition the disease manifests itself more frequently during winter and spring and this is not consistent with the absorption of the causative agent through the skin and/or gastrointestinal tract. In order to clarify the aetiology of the disease 122 workers in the shoe industry affected by toxic polymeuropathy during the period 1971-74 were studied. Workplaces where cases of polyneuropathy had occurred were visited and samples of glues and solvents were taken for chemical analysis. The polyneuropathy chiefly affects workers engaged in glueing and in the cleaning process, but it also affects those who do not have direct contact with glues or solvents. The disease is more common in women (68%) than in men (32%) and, in its more severe form begins with overwhelming prevalence during winter and early spring regardless of the job performed. No direct relationship has been found between the severity of the disease and the number of years of work in the shoe industry or of specific exposure (that is the number of years of work in the activity performed at the onset of the disease). The polyneuropathy is found almost exclusively among workers of the artisam type in small shoe factories, where standards of hygiene are low. Chemical analysis of glues and cleaning fluids collected from five different factories, where 20 cases of polyneuropathy occurred, showed the presence of paraffin hydrocarbons with a low boiling point (pentane, 2-methyl-pentane, 3-methyl-pentane, n-hexane, etc.) in concentrations of more than 80% by weight.     

有机溶剂作业工人的职业体验及影响因素

目的:研究有机溶剂作业工人的职业体验及其影响因素,探讨此类作业工人的职业适应度,为制定相应管理对策,充分提高生产效率提供科学依据。方法:应用系统化职业心理测验工具对有机溶剂作业工人的职业体验,包括职业满意度和工作生活质量进行调查和分析。结果:有机溶剂作业工人职业满意度和工作生活质量均显著低于对照组(P <0 0 1)。不同工龄的有机溶剂作业工人中工龄<1 0年的职业满意度和生活质量均低于工龄≥1 0年者,但仅职业满意度两组间差异有显著性(P <0 0 1) ;鞋厂、玩具厂、电子厂工人的职业满意度和工作生活质量均显著低于对照组(P <0 0 1) ,除玩具厂工人职业满意度显著低于鞋厂工人外(P <0 0 1) ,3个厂工人的职业体验差异无显著性(P >0 0 5 )。回归分析显示正已烷、苯、甲苯等为有机溶剂作业工人的职业体验的主要影响因素。结论:有机溶剂作业工人的职业体验较差,有机溶剂混合物对作业工人的职业体验有一定的影响。建议改善有机溶剂作业工人的工作环境,积极开展健康教育和提供必要的心理咨询,以保证工人身心健康。     

Exposure to wood dust among carpenters in the construction industry in the Netherlands

Exposure to wood dust was measured among 26 carpenters at 13 building projects. Sampling days were chosen randomly. Individual tasks, based on technology applied and material used during a working day, were sampled separately. From these task-based measurements, 8 h time-weighted average concentrations were calculated. Sampling was performed in accordance with a protocol that was developed by the carpentry and furniture industry and which was especially designed for sampling of wood dust. Eight hours time-weighted average exposure to wood dust ranged from 0.8 to 11.6 mg m(-3) with a geometric mean (GM) of 3.3 mg m(-3) and a geometric standard deviation (GSD) of 2.1. The probability of exceedance of the OEL, when comparing the estimated concentrations against the Dutch OEL of 2 mg m(-3), was 75%. The highest exposures were measured during sawing of Cempanel sheets. Task-based measurements showed lowest exposures when working outdoors (n = 11, AM = 2.2 mg m(-3)), but even then 5 out of 11 task-based exposures exceeded 2 mg m(-3). Indoors the exposure was 5.2 mg m(-3) (AM, n = 29) and when working both indoors and outdoors exposure was 16.2 mg m(-3) (AM, n = 4). In conclusion, long-term average exposure to wood dust among carpenters at construction sites is more than 1.5 times the present occupational exposure limit of 2 mg m(-3). The estimated probability of exceedance of the OEL was 75% and a reduction of exposure with a factor 5 is needed to bring the probability of exceedance below 5%. It is intended to lower the exposure limit to 1 mg m(-3) by 1 January 2007. In that case the probability of exceedance of the OEL is 95% and a reduction of exposure with a factor 10 is needed to bring the probability of exceedance below 5%. This can be achieved by using alternative materials, preparation of building material in workshops equipped with exposure controls, alternative equipment and improved ventilation and good housekeeping.     

Increase in exhaled nitric oxide in shoe and leather workers at the end of the work-shift

BACKGROUND: Measurement of nitric oxide (NO) in exhaled air is a non-invasive procedure for assessing airway or pulmonary inflammation, and for evaluating environmental irritant effects of air pollution. The objective of this study was to evaluate exhaled NO levels in synthetic leather workers exposed to organic solvents toluene, xylene and methylethyl ketone. METHODS: Seventeen shoe and leather workers and 10 controls from administrative personnel of the factory were studied. The levels of exhaled NO at baseline and at the end of the work shift were measured using a standardized chemiluminescence technique. Environmental assay of the three solvents was also assessed during the working day. RESULTS: Environmental solvent concentrations were high but within permissible exposure levels. Exhaled NO concentrations increased by 40% in the leather workers at the end of the working day from a mean +/- SD of 9.1 +/- 1.3 p.p.b. to 12.8 +/- 1.7 p.p.b. (P < 0.02), as compared to the controls. CONCLUSION: Exhaled NO is increased in shoe and leather workers exposed to solvents at the end of work shift, while it does not change in unexposed subjects of the same factory. Exhaled NO may be a sensitive tool to monitor sub-clinical effects of occupational pro-inflammatory substances.