[Prevalences of allergic diseases among synthetic chemical workers]

We studied the prevalence of allergic diseases among synthetic chemical workers, using a cross-sectional questionnaire, to clarify the epidemiological evidence of occupational allergy due to chemicals which workers were handling and manufacturing. A file, registered in 1981, of 6,819 person, was used to calculate the prevalence during the preceding 12 months of "allergy," "asthma," and "skin disease," and to analyze the relationship between the prevalence and the exposure risks such as the work or the chemicals being manufactured. The main results were: 1) In workers who were exposed to the various chemicals, the prevalence of "allergy," "asthma," and "skin disease" were 3.2, 1.9, and 9.0%, respectively. 2) Among the workers who were engaged in the manufacturing of synthetic resins, paints, films, titania or pharmaceuticals, the prevalence of "allergy" was significantly higher than among others. The rates of "asthma" were significantly higher than others among workers in cosmetics, synthetic resins, or fertilizers. The rates of "skin disease" were significantly higher among those working with cosmetics, synthetic resins, paints, dyes, or organic solvents. The results indicate that allergy research should be concentrated on workers engaged in manufacturing the above chemicals.