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.