RELATIONSHIP BITWIIN SKIN DISIASIS AND Pollution IN TANNIRIIS

Abstract

Occupational dermatoses constitute a maJOr group of occupational disorders. The figures of these diseases are high and the economic burden of them is considerable. The number of lost working days is highest in the industrialized countries. Leather manufacture is one of the industries in which skin diseases are a common occurrence due to various chemicals used, the way of handling the fresh hides and the lack of mechanization with using of hand tools. So environmental and health issues are a very real concern today for most industries to help minimizing occupational hazards and improving workers well being.

This study aims at evaluation of prevalence of occupational dermatoses among tannery workers; studying the effect of different risk factors either personal or environmental on this prevalence, and evaluation of the importance of protective measures in lowering this prevalence.

This study included 500 subjects (all are men), 350 who were involved m the different steps ofleather manufacture (workers) and 150 subjects who were not involved in these steps, served as a control. This control group was selected from the administration department, which is located far away from the workplace. Each subject was subjected to the following: questionnaire, clinical and dermatological examination and patch test by using potassium dichromate in petrolatum (0.5%) as allergen . Environmental study was done to measure atmospheric temperature, relative humidity and the level of air pollution by chromium at different sites of the workplace and in the ambient atr.