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Document ID (ISN)61546
CIS number 94-197
ISSN - Serial title 0105-1873 - Contact Dermatitis
Year 1993
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Tarvainen K., Jolanki R., Forsman-Grönholm L., Estlander T., Pfäffli P., Juntunen J., Kanerva L.
Title Exposure, skin protection and occupational skin diseases in the glass-fibre-reinforced plastics industry
Bibliographic information Sep. 1993, Vol.29, No.3, p.119-127. Illus. 45 ref.
Abstract A total of 100 workers, 86 from the glass-fibre-reinforced plastics (GRP) industry, 11 from polystyrene production and 3 from polyester resin coating manufacture, were examined for occupational skin hazards. The workers had been exposed to many chemicals. Those working in the GRP industry had also been exposed to glass fibre and to dust produced by finishing work, 94% used protective gloves. 22 workers, all employed in the GRP industry, had contracted occupational skin disorders, 6 had allergic and 12 irritant contact dermatitis, 4 workers had an accidental injury caused by a peroxide catalyst, fire, hot air and constant mechanical friction. Allergic dermatoses were due to natural rubber (latex) (4 cases) in protective gloves, phenol-formaldehyde resin (1 case) and cobalt naphthenate (1 case). Irritant hand dermatoses (5 cases) were caused by the combined hazardous effect of unsaturated polyester or vinyl ester resins, organic solvents, glass fibre and dust. Other cases of irritant dermatoses (7 cases) were due to the dust, promoted by mechanical friction of clothes. Skin disorders in the GRP industry were common (26%) but the symptoms were mild.
Descriptors (primary) glass fibre reinforced plastics; styrene; cobalt naphthenate; phenol-formaldehyde polymers; natural rubber; exposure; skin allergies; eczema; organic solvents; fibrous glass industry; latex
Descriptors (secondary) epidemiologic study; skin diseases
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceFinland
Subject(s) Occupational pathology
Broad subject area(s) Occupational medicine, epidemiology
Browse category(ies) Skin diseases
Allergies
Aromatic hydrocarbons
Esters and salts
Glass, pottery and related materials