Title: Occupational skin disease in newspaper pressroom workers.

Authors: Yakes, B; Kelsey, K T; Seitz, T; Hashimoto, D; Feldman, H A; Christiani, D C

Published In J Occup Med, (1991 Jun)

Abstract: Studies of printing industry tradespeople have reported an increased problem of dermatologic abnormalities, including contact dermatitis and dermatitis attributed to solvent exposure. The current cross-sectional health survey of dermatological conditions were conducted in a follow-up of perceived skin abnormalities among newspaper pressroom workers. We surveyed 215 pressroom workers and 34 compositors at a large northeastern US newspaper printing facility. Our findings indicate that printing pressroom workers reported skin condition symptoms at a significantly higher rate than did the compositor referent group. Pressroom workers also were found to be at a significantly elevated risk of developing dermatitis after self-reported exposure to certain commonly used solvents. This emphasizes the need for proper work practices, product substitution where possible, and appropriate protective glove use by newspaper pressroom workers.

PubMed ID: 1830898

MeSH Terms: Causality; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Dermatitis, Contact/epidemiology; Dermatitis, Contact/etiology; Dermatitis, Occupational/epidemiology*; Dermatitis, Occupational/etiology; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Male; New England; Newspapers as Topic*; Risk Factors; Solvents/adverse effects*