Abstract
Skin diseases are a major occupational health issue in tannery workers because of work related exposure to various toxic chemicals used in tanning process. In the present study, prevalence of various skin diseases and predisposing factors in tannery workers were investigated.A cross sectional study including 114 tannery workers (male-89; female-25) employed at different tanneries of Southern India was carried out. Face to face interview with pre-designed questionnaire and health examination was conducted. Skin samples obtained from the participants were subjected to microscopic examination and microbial culture for diagnosis of skin diseases. The prevalence of occupational skin disorders were 39% among the study participants. Contact dermatitis (16%), skin infections (16%), eczematous lesions (7%) and nail discoloration (1.75%) wereidentified. Skin infections of fungal origin were identified among 11.4% of subjects. The skin infections of fungi; tenia corporis, tenia cruris, tenia unguium, tenia versicolor, tenia pedis and Pityriosis versicolor were identified. Bacterial skin infections identified were associated with contact dermatitis. Lack of PPE usage was reported among 30% of workers. Hazardous working environment, chemical exposure, humidity and lack of PPEusage were significantly associated with increased skin disease incidence(p<0.05), indicating the major predisposing factorsfor Occupation skin diseases.The findings of the study emphasize that,workers in the pre-tanning section and tanning sections are more vulnerable to occupational skin diseases.Compliance to use of PPEs, engineering controls to reduce exposure, education, frequent health surveillance and early identification & treatment could mitigate the occupational skindiseasesamongtannery workers.
Highlights
The leather tanning industry holds a prominent place in the Indian economy, providing job to 4.42 million people, mostly of lower socio-economic status
Chromium salts has potential ability to bind with skin proteins of tannery workers to produce complex antigens which lead to hypersensitivity reactions
Occupational skin disorders were found to be prevalent among tannery workers
Summary
The leather tanning industry holds a prominent place in the Indian economy, providing job to 4.42 million people, mostly of lower socio-economic status. Women workers occupy 30% in this sector, among the states Tamil Nadu, the southern part of India holds the major leather production centers. The state of Tamil Nadu is accountable for 60-70% of leather production in India.. Tannery workers exposed to deleterious agents such as acids (Formic acid, sulphuric acid) chromium sulphate, ammonium salts, sodium salts and dyes etc,.. Tannery workers exposed to deleterious agents such as acids (Formic acid, sulphuric acid) chromium sulphate, ammonium salts, sodium salts and dyes etc,.3 These chemicals are demonstrated as potential irritant and sensitizing agent among worker exposed for long duration.. Chromium salts has potential ability to bind with skin proteins of tannery workers to produce complex antigens which lead to hypersensitivity reactions.. The state of Tamil Nadu is accountable for 60-70% of leather production in India. Tannery industries are the most toxic in the world owing to intensive chemical usage.The tanning industries involved manual operations, viz; hide handling, soaking, un-hairing, trimming, tanning, dyeing and other finishing process. tannery workers exposed to deleterious agents such as acids (Formic acid, sulphuric acid) chromium sulphate, ammonium salts, sodium salts and dyes etc,. These chemicals are demonstrated as potential irritant and sensitizing agent among worker exposed for long duration. Chromium salts has potential ability to bind with skin proteins of tannery workers to produce complex antigens which lead to hypersensitivity reactions. Prevalence of occupational dermatitis has been reported among tannery workers in Asian countries.
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