Respiratory and skin disorders among workers in water-based paints industry

In the last few decades, painting industry started to develop new types of paints "water-based paints" to replace "solvent-based ones" which contain large amounts of solvents. Water-based paints involve an. emulsion of acrylic resin, stabilizers [e.g. ammonia] and preservatives [e.g. formaldehyde] dissolved in water; that are more safe than solvent paints. To determine the respiratory and skin disorders which may affect workers in such industry, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 20 male workers in water-based paints factory in Sadat City, Menoufiya Governorate in comparison with an equal number of non exposed subjects as control group. Both groups were matched for age, sex, socioeconomic standards, education, marital status and smoking habit. All individuals were subjected to structured question naire including personal, occupational and medical histories, clinical examination, and spirometric measurements arid skin patch test. The prevalence of respiratory and skin manifestations and positive patch test results was significantly higher in exposed than control group. Also there was a trend of declining in spirometric measure ments [FVC%, FEV1%, FEV1/FVC% arid MEF] reaching a significant level or MEF% among exposed workers than in control ones. Smoking had a synergistic effect with exposure to water-based paints leading to a significant increase in the prevalence of respiratory manifestations and a significant reduction of mean of MEF%among exposed smoking workers than exposed non-smokers [108. 73 +/- 3.5and1 15.0 +/- 4,2% respectively]. There was a significant relationship between the increase in duration of exposure and increase in the prevalence of respiratory and skin manifestation and declining in MEF% among exposed workers in water-based paints industry. Usage of protective equipments was significantly valuable in minimizing the prevalence of skin manifestations [itching from 66,7% to 12..5% and dermatitis from 66.7% to 0%] among exposed personnel. Work in the water-based paints-industry was associated with increased prevalence of respiratory and skin manifestations and reduction of spirometric measurements. It is recommend that: smoking habit must be prohibited in this industry with stress on proper usage of personal protective equipments together with health education for workers in water-based paints about risk of exposure and steps to minimize the resulting disorders

Respiratory hazards among workers in acrylic textile industry

For this study, ninety two exposed and thirty control workers were chosen randomly from Queisna Menoutex Factory. Each worker was examined using a special questionnaire for respiratory symptoms, personal data, history of exposure, and clinical examination. Spiromelric measurements were done using a compact spirometer. Environmental study revealed levels of acrylic fibres and acrylonitrile vapours lower than their threshold limit values. The results revealed that chronic bronchitis was significantly more prevalent among exposed than the control workers. A significant decrease in mean pre shift spiromelric measurements was found in exposed when compared with control workers. There was a significant association between the time intensity factor [for acrylic fibres and acrylonitrile vapours] and either of the prevalence of other respiratory symptoms or the changes in spirometric measurements for the non smoking exposed workers. Significant increase in the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and a significant decrease in mean pre shift spirometric measurements were found among smoking than among the non smoking exposed workers. The mean post-shift spirometric measurement was significantly lower than that of the pre-shift measurement for all the exposed workers

Biological indicators and lipogram pattern among workers in battery industry

The effects of chronic lead exposure on the cardiovascular system were investigated in the workers in the battery industry at Chloride Company. One hundred and ten workers exposed to lead were selected randomly, also 45 workers who have never been exposed to lead before, of comparable age group and socioeconomic standard were selected randomly to be the control group. General clinical examination, cardiovascular manifestations [by an observation sheet], blood pressure determination were carried out and blood lead, urinary delta amino levulenic acid and lipogram pattern [total lipids, cholesterol and its fractions, triglycerides and B/A lipoproteins] were determined. Also lactic acid dehydrogenase and lactic acid isoenzymes estimation were performed. The atmospheric lead concentration was found to be 0.039 - 0.28 ug/m3. The present study showed high prevalence of cardiovascular manifestations [27.3%] and hypertension [35.5%] among exposed workers with significant correlation between systolic and diastolic blood pressure and some parameters of lipogram pattern on one hand with blood lead and urinary delta amino levulenic acid