School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia.
School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Am J Ind Med. 2020 Jul;63(7):624-633. doi: 10.1002/ajim.23108. Epub 2020 Mar 31.
Healthcare workers are occupationally exposed to various hazardous chemicals and agents that can potentially result in long-term adverse health effects. These exposures have not been comprehensively examined at a population level. The aim of this study was to examine occupational exposures to a wide range of asthmagens, carcinogens, and ototoxic agents among healthcare workers in Australia.
Data were collected as part of the Australian Work Exposures Studies, which were computer-assisted telephone surveys conducted in 2011, 2014, and 2016 to assess the prevalence of occupational exposures to carcinogens, asthmagens, and ototoxic agents, respectively, among Australian workers. Using data on healthcare workers, the prevalence of exposures to these agents was calculated and associations of demographic variables and occupation groups with exposure status were examined.
The prevalence of exposure to at least one asthmagen, carcinogen, and ototoxic agent was 92.3%, 50.7%, and 44.6%, respectively. The most common exposures were to (a) cleaning and sterilizing agents in the asthmagen group; (b) shift work in the carcinogen group; and (c) toluene and p-xylene among ototoxic agents. Exposure varied by occupation, with exposure to carcinogens and ototoxic agents highest among personal carers and exposure to carcinogens most likely among nursing professionals and health and welfare support workers.
The results demonstrate that a substantial proportion of Australian healthcare workers are occupationally exposed to asthmagens, carcinogens, and ototoxic agents. These exposures are more common among certain occupational groups. The information provided by this study will be useful in prioritizing and implementing control strategies.
医疗工作者在职业环境中会接触到各种有害化学物质和制剂，这可能会导致长期的健康不良影响。这些暴露在人群水平上尚未得到全面研究。本研究旨在检查澳大利亚医疗工作者接触各种变应原、致癌物和耳毒性制剂的情况。
数据是作为澳大利亚工作暴露研究的一部分收集的，该研究是 2011 年、2014 年和 2016 年进行的计算机辅助电话调查，分别评估了澳大利亚工人接触致癌物、变应原和耳毒性制剂的流行率。使用医疗工作者的数据，计算了接触这些制剂的流行率，并检查了人口统计学变量和职业群体与接触状况的关联。
至少接触一种变应原、致癌物和耳毒性制剂的流行率分别为 92.3%、50.7%和 44.6%。最常见的暴露是（a）变应原组中的清洁和消毒制剂；（b）致癌物组中的轮班工作；（c）耳毒性制剂中的甲苯和对二甲苯。接触情况因职业而异，致癌物和耳毒性制剂在个人护理人员中接触最多，而致癌物在护理专业人员和健康和福利支持人员中最有可能接触。
结果表明，相当一部分澳大利亚医疗工作者在职业环境中接触到变应原、致癌物和耳毒性制剂。这些暴露在某些职业群体中更为常见。本研究提供的信息将有助于确定和实施控制策略。
