Case Series for Occupational Dermatosis in a Factory Treating Liquid Waste Mixtures.
- Author:
Sue Kyung PARK
1
;
Hyun Sul LIM
Author Information
1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Konkuk University College of Medicine, Korea. suepark@kku.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Occupation;
Contact dermatitis;
Liquid waste mixtures;
Mixed waste organic solvents
- MeSH:
Aluminum;
Dermatitis, Contact;
Gyeongsangbuk-do;
Occupations;
Oils;
Patch Tests;
Questionnaires;
Skin;
Skin Diseases*;
Solvents
- From:Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
2004;16(3):336-351
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: A dermatologic outbreak occurred in a factory usingliquid waste mixtures at Gyeongju. We conducted this study to identify causative factors. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire interview composed of general andjob characteristics. A dermatologist carried out medical examination, European standard patch test and 'as is' patch test. We evaluated the cases with over 5 criteria of Mathias's 7 definitions of occupational dermatologic diseases. RESULTS: Seven of 9 workers were diagnosed with dermatosis and 3 subjects (cases 2, 4 and 6) with Mathias's 7 criteria were confirmed as having occupational dermatologic diseases and were diagnosed as irritant contact dermatitis. Two subjects (cases 1 and 9) with over 5 criteria were evaluated as suspicious status. The remaining 2 subjects (cases 3 and 5) were not compatible with those criteria. The main sources of this outbreak were suggested to be the wasted solvents in the factory of car accessories and aluminum products because the subjects (cases 2, 4, 6, 1 and 9) had the positive skin reaction against those sources in 'as is 'patch test. Furthermore, 4 of the 5 subjects cases 2, 4, 6 and 9) had some skin reactions against the waste solvents of chemical material in 'as is'patch test. CONCLUSION: This outbreak occurred by direct skin contact of liquid waste mixtures of a factory making car accessories and aluminum products. The cutting oils and metal working fluids in those liquid waste mixtures were estimated as the most suspected materials. In addition, this outbreak may have been caused by the hazard effect of mixed waste organic solvents of manufacturing of chemical materials.
