Biomaterial Database

Work-related skin disease in the plastics industry. 1997

E M Socie, and K D Gromen, and A A Migliozzi, and C A Geidenberger

Occupational Health Section, Ohio Department of Health, Columbus 43266-0118, USA.

In a survey of a representative sample of workers taken at each of four different plastics manufacturers, 122 completed self-administered questionnaires were obtained. Twenty-six respondents (21.3%) met the case definition for having a work-related skin disorder during the preceding year. Sixteen (61.5%) cases indicated that their skin problems were present for 11 or more days, and 50% reported that their normal daily activities were at least somewhat affected. Risk of disease was elevated for workers who reported skin contact with formaldehyde (OR = 3.30; 95% CI = 1.02-10.69) or with polyvinyl-chlorides (PVCs) or their precursors (OR = 4.08; CI = 1.19-14.06), used barrier creams (OR = 4.51; CI = 1.22-16.68), were female (OR = 5.42; CI = 0.97-30.22), were 35 or younger (OR = 4.65; CI = 1.53-14.19), and for each use of hand cleaner at work (OR = 1.22; CI = 1.05-1.41). These findings should be considered when designing programs to reduce the incidence of skin disease among workers in the plastics industry.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009783	Dermatitis, Occupational	A recurrent contact dermatitis caused by substances found in the work place.	Occupational Dermatitis,Dermatosis, Industrial,Industrial Dermatosis,Dermatitides, Occupational,Dermatoses, Industrial,Industrial Dermatoses,Occupational Dermatitides
D009820	Ohio	State bounded on the north by Michigan and Lake Erie, on the east by Ohio River and Pennsylvania, on the south by Ohio River, and on the west by Indiana.
D010969	Plastics	Polymeric materials (usually organic) of large molecular weight which can be shaped by flow. Plastic usually refers to the final product with fillers, plasticizers, pigments, and stabilizers included (versus the resin, the homogeneous polymeric starting material). (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Plastic
D011143	Polyvinyl Chloride	A polyvinyl resin used extensively in the manufacture of plastics, including medical devices, tubing, and other packaging. It is also used as a rubber substitute.	Chloroethylene Polymer,Polychloroethylene,Vinyl Chloride Polymer,Chloroethylene Homopolymer,Geon,PVC,Ultron,Viaflex,Vinylite,Chloride, Polyvinyl,Homopolymer, Chloroethylene,Polymer, Chloroethylene,Polymer, Vinyl Chloride
D011795	Surveys and Questionnaires	Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions.	Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D005260	Female		Females
D005557	Formaldehyde	A highly reactive aldehyde gas formed by oxidation or incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons. In solution, it has a wide range of uses: in the manufacture of resins and textiles, as a disinfectant, and as a laboratory fixative or preservative. Formaldehyde solution (formalin) is considered a hazardous compound, and its vapor toxic. (From Reynolds, Martindale The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p717)	Formalin,Formol,Methanal,Oxomethane
D006229	Hand Dermatoses	Skin diseases involving the HANDS.	Hand Dermatosis,Dermatoses, Hand,Dermatosis, Hand