Teigen Krister Aune, Höper Anje Christina, Føreland Solveig, Eggesbø Merete Åse, Hegseth Marit Nøst
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
Department of Community Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
J Occup Med Toxicol. 2024 Mar 14;19(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s12995-024-00407-8.
The objective was to investigate self-reported hand eczema, and skin complaints at other skin locations among workers exposed to particulate matter, especially ultrafine particles.
We conducted a cross-sectional study on workers from one ferro-silicon smelter plant, eight chimney sweeper stations and one firefighter station across Norway. Participants answered an extended version of the Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire (NOSQ-2022), with additional questions about whole-body skin complaints and visible dust deposition. Results are presented as descriptive data using firefighters as reference group. Odds ratio (OR) was calculated using logistic regression on lifetime prevalence of hand eczema adjusted for potential confounders and mediators. P-values were calculated using likelihood ratio test against the crude OR.
A total of 186 participants answered the questionnaire: 74 chimney sweepers, 52 firefighters and 60 smelter workers. Participation rate was 95.0, 94.5 and 63.6%, respectively. Lifetime prevalence of hand eczema was 9.5, 9.6, and 28.3%, respectively. The point prevalence of hand eczema was 1.4, 1.9 and 10.0%, respectively. We estimated OR for lifetime hand eczema in smelter workers to 4.36 [95% CI: 1.31-14.43, p = 0.016] and for lifetime skin complaints in other locations to 2.25 [95% CI: 0.98-5.18, p = 0.058]. The lifetime prevalence of skin complaints at other locations was 18.9, 23.1 and 40.0%, respectively. The point prevalence was 14.9, 9.6 and 16.7%, respectively. These estimates were not statistically significant but indicates that smelter workers have more skin complaints also at other locations.
This study reports a more than four-fold increased risk of hand eczema in smelter workers, and possibly a higher risk of skin complaints in other body locations, compared to the other occupations. Longitudinal studies with larger population are needed to verify the marked increased risk of eczema among smelters and establish causation.
目的是调查接触颗粒物（尤其是超细颗粒）的工人自我报告的手部湿疹及其他皮肤部位的皮肤问题。
我们对挪威一家硅铁冶炼厂、八个烟囱清扫站和一个消防站的工人进行了横断面研究。参与者回答了北欧职业皮肤问卷（NOSQ - 2022）的扩展版本，并额外回答了有关全身皮肤问题和可见灰尘沉积的问题。结果以描述性数据呈现，以消防员作为参考组。使用逻辑回归计算手部湿疹终生患病率的比值比（OR），并对潜在的混杂因素和中介因素进行调整。使用似然比检验计算相对于粗OR的P值。
共有186名参与者回答了问卷：74名烟囱清扫工、52名消防员和60名冶炼工人。参与率分别为95.0%、94.5%和63.6%。手部湿疹的终生患病率分别为9.5%、9.6%和28.3%。手部湿疹的现患率分别为1.4%、1.9%和10.0%。我们估计冶炼工人手部湿疹终生患病率的OR为4.36 [95%置信区间：1.31 - 14.43，p = 0.016]，其他部位皮肤问题终生患病率的OR为2.25 [95%置信区间：0.98 - 5.18，p = 0.058]。其他部位皮肤问题的终生患病率分别为18.9%、23.1%和40.0%。现患率分别为14.9%、9.6%和16.7%。这些估计值无统计学意义，但表明冶炼工人在其他部位也有更多的皮肤问题。
本研究报告称，与其他职业相比，冶炼工人手部湿疹风险增加了四倍多，其他身体部位出现皮肤问题的风险可能也更高。需要进行更大规模人群的纵向研究，以验证冶炼工人湿疹风险的显著增加并确定因果关系。
