Hand dermatitis in industry

This study was conducted in three industries - tanning, tile and paint - in Asir Province, the Southern region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The problem of dermatitis has not been investigated in any of these three factories. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the prevalence of hand dermatitis in the tanning, tile and paint industries and to define the relative risk of developing such condition in each industry. All the exposed workers [31, 52, 53] in the three factories were included in the study. A control group [40 subjects] was included to provide a reference estimate. Data were collected through structured interviews using a standardized questionnaire that included questions on personal and occupational history and symptoms of hand dermatitis. Prevalence figures were compared using tests of significance. Odds ratio and their 95% confidence intervals were computed to indicate the risk of exposure in each industry. The prevalence of hand dermatitis in tanning, tile and paint industries were 45.2%, 15.4% and 25.9% respectively. The association with exposure was significant in tanning and paint industries where odds ratio were 10.16 and 4.3 respectively. In tile industry, the association was insignificant [odds ratio 2.24]. The majority of workers with hand dermatitis did not seek medical consultation and all of them did not have sick leave. This study revealed that workers in tanning industry and paint industry were at a high risk of developing hand dermatitis. The chemicals used in these industries might be claimed for such high risk. Further studies are recommended to investigate the exact role of these chemicals in inducing hand dermatitis. This may help determining of the possible prophylactic measures