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Published on: June 7, 2017
Occupational risk factors for hand dermatitis among professional cleaners in Spain
Maria C Mirabelli1, David Vizcaya, Anna Martí Margarit
1Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. mmirabel@wakehealth.edu
Background:
Dermatitis is an important health outcome for workers whose jobs put them in contact with irritants or sensitizing agents.
Objectives:
We conducted an analysis of data from the Epidemiological Study on the Risk of Asthma in Cleaning Workers 2 (EPIASLI2) to assess worksites and cleaning products as risk factors for hand dermatitis among professional cleaning workers.
Materials/Methods:
We distributed 4993 questionnaires to employees of 37 cleaning companies, and used data from 818 (16%) respondents who provided information about skin symptoms and cleaning-related exposures. We assessed associations between the frequencies of worksite and cleaning product exposures and a symptom-based definition of hand dermatitis among current cleaning workers (n = 693) and a comparison population (n = 125).
Results:
Hand dermatitis was reported by 28% of current cleaning workers, versus 18% of the comparison population, and was associated with cleaning outdoor areas and schools, and the use of hydrochloric acid [prevalence ratio (PR) 1.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22-3.02] and dust mop products (PR 1.75, 95% CI 1.11-2.75).
Conclusions:
Professional cleaning workers may not be sufficiently protected from cutaneous disease at work. Future research should further investigate the roles of multiple product exposures and personal protective equipment.
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