Risk of contact allergy and dermatitis at a wind turbine plant using epoxy resin-based plastics
(2005) In International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health 78(3). p.211-217- Abstract
- Aims: To identify workplace and individual risk factors for occupational contact allergy and dermatitis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at an international company producing wind turbine systems in Denmark. A cohort of 724 production workers at four facilities was highly exposed to epoxy resin as well as other chemicals. A screening questionnaire (participation rate 84.7%) was followed by an interview by an occupational physician and a dermatological examination, including patch testing, for a comprehensive list of potential workplace sensitizers. Results: Clinically diagnosed dermatitis was found among 214 workers (35.8%) and contact allergy to materials used in the workplace was found in 66 workers (10.9% of the total... (More)
- Aims: To identify workplace and individual risk factors for occupational contact allergy and dermatitis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at an international company producing wind turbine systems in Denmark. A cohort of 724 production workers at four facilities was highly exposed to epoxy resin as well as other chemicals. A screening questionnaire (participation rate 84.7%) was followed by an interview by an occupational physician and a dermatological examination, including patch testing, for a comprehensive list of potential workplace sensitizers. Results: Clinically diagnosed dermatitis was found among 214 workers (35.8%) and contact allergy to materials used in the workplace was found in 66 workers (10.9% of the total population and 20.3% of those who underwent patch testing). Of the 66 workers with a work-related allergy, 40 (60.6%) were allergic to epoxy compounds, 25 (37.9%) to hardeners and ten (15.2%) to other workplace materials, where one person showed an allergy only to these materials. Experiencing contact allergy was related to older age and longer employment in the workplace-however, neither of these risk factors was significant. The main risk factor for current dermatitis was contact allergy to materials used in the workplace, determined by patch testing, OR=5.4 (95% CI 3.9-9.9). Fewer days of absence from work was also related to current dermatitis, OR=2.0 (95% CI 1.2-3.5). Conclusions: In a cohort of workers with extensive exposure to chemicals related to epoxy-resin systems, contact dermatitis and allergy was prevalent. Older age and longer duration of employment at the workplace were individual risk factors for allergy to workplace materials, whilst work-related allergies and longer duration of employment at the workplace were significant risk factors for current dermatitis. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/896820
- author
- Rasmussen, K ; Carstensen, O ; Pontén, Ann LU ; Gruvberger, Birgitta LU ; Isaksson, Marléne LU and Bruze, Magnus LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2005
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- wind turbine, eczema, dermatitis, epoxy
- in
- International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
- volume
- 78
- issue
- 3
- pages
- 211 - 217
- publisher
- Springer
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000228539700007
- pmid:15739094
- scopus:23844490153
- ISSN
- 1432-1246
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00420-004-0575-5
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Occupational and Environmental Dermatology Unit (013241310), Pediatrics/Urology/Gynecology/Endocrinology (013240400)
- id
- 789a435a-1e0b-483c-afb3-1e905b2474d1 (old id 896820)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 15:47:26
- date last changed
- 2022-01-28 07:05:59
@article{789a435a-1e0b-483c-afb3-1e905b2474d1,
abstract = {{Aims: To identify workplace and individual risk factors for occupational contact allergy and dermatitis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at an international company producing wind turbine systems in Denmark. A cohort of 724 production workers at four facilities was highly exposed to epoxy resin as well as other chemicals. A screening questionnaire (participation rate 84.7%) was followed by an interview by an occupational physician and a dermatological examination, including patch testing, for a comprehensive list of potential workplace sensitizers. Results: Clinically diagnosed dermatitis was found among 214 workers (35.8%) and contact allergy to materials used in the workplace was found in 66 workers (10.9% of the total population and 20.3% of those who underwent patch testing). Of the 66 workers with a work-related allergy, 40 (60.6%) were allergic to epoxy compounds, 25 (37.9%) to hardeners and ten (15.2%) to other workplace materials, where one person showed an allergy only to these materials. Experiencing contact allergy was related to older age and longer employment in the workplace-however, neither of these risk factors was significant. The main risk factor for current dermatitis was contact allergy to materials used in the workplace, determined by patch testing, OR=5.4 (95% CI 3.9-9.9). Fewer days of absence from work was also related to current dermatitis, OR=2.0 (95% CI 1.2-3.5). Conclusions: In a cohort of workers with extensive exposure to chemicals related to epoxy-resin systems, contact dermatitis and allergy was prevalent. Older age and longer duration of employment at the workplace were individual risk factors for allergy to workplace materials, whilst work-related allergies and longer duration of employment at the workplace were significant risk factors for current dermatitis.}},
author = {{Rasmussen, K and Carstensen, O and Pontén, Ann and Gruvberger, Birgitta and Isaksson, Marléne and Bruze, Magnus}},
issn = {{1432-1246}},
keywords = {{wind turbine; eczema; dermatitis; epoxy}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{3}},
pages = {{211--217}},
publisher = {{Springer}},
series = {{International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health}},
title = {{Risk of contact allergy and dermatitis at a wind turbine plant using epoxy resin-based plastics}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00420-004-0575-5}},
doi = {{10.1007/s00420-004-0575-5}},
volume = {{78}},
year = {{2005}},
}