Occupational Skin and Respiratory Diseases among Hairdressers

• Published in: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment ＆ Health Vol. 24; no. 5; pp. 398 - 406
• Main Authors: Leino, Timo, Tammilehto, Lauri, Hytönen, Maija, Sala, Eeva, Paakkulainen, Harri, Kanerva, Lasse
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Helsinki Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment ＆ Health 01.10.1998; National Institute for Working Life; Finnish Institute of Occupational Health; National Institute of Occupational Health (Denmark); National Institute of Occupational Health (Norway); Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Allergic diseases; Allergies; Asthma; Biological and medical sciences; Data Collection - methods; Dermatitis, Occupational - diagnosis; Dermatitis, Occupational - epidemiology; Dermatitis, Occupational - etiology; Eczema; Female; Finland - epidemiology; Hair Preparations - adverse effects; Hairdressing; Hand Dermatoses - chemically induced; Hand Dermatoses - diagnosis; Hand Dermatoses - epidemiology; Humans; Immunopathology; Lung Diseases - chemically induced; Lung Diseases - diagnosis; Lung Diseases - epidemiology; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases - chemically induced; Occupational Diseases - diagnosis; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational disorders; Patch Tests; Prevalence; Quaternary ammonium compounds; Respiratory and ent allergic diseases; Respiratory diseases; Rhinitis; Rhinitis - chemically induced; Rhinitis - diagnosis; Rhinitis - epidemiology; Skin; Skin allergic diseases. Stinging insect allergies; Symptoms; Europe; Finland; prevalence; dermatitis; atopy; allergy; laryngitis; asthma; rhinitis; koilonychia; Human; Immunopathology; Allergy; Skin disease; Prevalence; Questionnaire; Respiratory disease; Toxicity; Chemical compound; Occupational exposure; Dermatitis; Epidemiology; Hand; Asthma; Risk factor; Hairdresser; Female; Obstructive pulmonary disease; Occupational medicine; Allergen
• ISSN: 0355-3140; 1795-990X
• DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.361

Objectives The occurrence and causes of hairdressers' occupational skin and respiratory diseases were studied. Methods Of a random sample of 500 female hairdressers aged 15—54 years, 355 were available for study. Of the 189 reporting work-related skin and respiratory symptoms in a computer-aided telephone interview on exposure and health, 130 underwent a physical examination, lung function tests, prick and patch testing, and nasal and lung provocation tests. An occupational disease was diagnosed when the causality between exposure and disease was probable and the clinical tests supported the diagnosis. Results The telephone interview revealed a life-time prevalence of 16.9% for hand dermatoses, 16.9% for allergic rhinitis, and 4.5% for asthma among the hairdressers. In the clinical investigations, the prevalence was 2.8% for occupational dermatoses, 1.7% for occupational rhinitis, and 0.8% for occupational asthma. Ammonium persulfate caused 90% of the respiratory diseases and 27% of the hand dermatoses. Paraphenylenediamine, natural rubber latex, and skin irritation were also causes of hand dermatitis. Allergy to human dandruff (8.6%) and Pityrosporum ovale (12.1%) was common. Previously diagnosed atopic diseases increased the risk for occupational skin or respiratory disease 3-fold (odds ratio 2.9,95% confidence interval 1.1—7.9). Of the cases, 37.5% (6 of 16 persons) had to change occupations during a 3-year follow-up. Conclusions Work-related skin and respiratory symptoms are common among hairdressers. Often a specific cause (eg, ammonium persulfate) can be found if occupational diseases are suspected and diagnosed. Hairdressers with atopic diseases are at risk of developing occupational skin and respiratory diseases.