Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Original Article

Case Series for Occupational Skin Disorders in Carbon Fiber Exposed Packing Workers: Hye Eun Lee, Chang Bum Byun, Sinye Lim, Seung Ho Jeon, Sang Yong Oh, Hyoung Ryoul Kim, Soon Choi, Domyung Paek, Mijin Park; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2006;18(3):199-208. Published online September 30, 2006; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2006.18.3.199

Abstract PDF: OBJECTIVES
We report an outbreak of skin disorder in semiconductor packing workers. Through an evaluation of the degree of work-relatedness in this case, we aim to develop a method to overcome such health problems in the workplace.
METHODS
A questionnaire investigating the job characteristics and skin symptoms was administered to 51 packing workers working in a semiconductor production factory and 49 questionnaires returned. The 16 subjects in the exposure group and 12 in the non-exposure group underwent doctor's examination and patch test. Two of 28 subjects were excluded in patch test. We investigated the work environment and carbon fiber level which was the potential causative agent.
RESULTS
Forty-five (91.8%) of 49 packing workers complained of itching and stinging. Three of 14(21.4%) in the exposure group and 3 of 11 (27.3%) in the non-exposure group were positive at 48hr reading of patch test for carbon fiber and carbon fiber paper. None was positive at 96hr reading of patch test. Prominent carbon fibers were microscopically observed on the surface of the packing box and the fiber diameter, measured up to 6.0~7.5 micrometer, was likely to induce skin irritation to skin. To avoid worker's direct contact with to carbon fiber, carbon fiber paper box was substituted by a wax coated carbon fiber paper box was substituted for the original carbon fiber paper box, which caused and the workers' symptoms to of workers disappeared.
CONCLUSION
The probably cause of this outbreak of skin disorder was mild irritant contact dermatitis for carbon fiber. To prevent outbreaks of such occupational skin disorder like this, workers should avoid direct contact with carbon fiber.

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Case Report

Acute Ulcerative Contact Dermatitis from Ready Mixed Conerete: Soo Hun Cho, Sang Hwan Han; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1995;7(1):191-194. Published online February 28, 1995; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.1995.7.1.191

The case was described of a 43 year old male who developed burns of the both shins as a result of handling wet cement. After wet cement was spilled into the rubber boots he was wearing, he experienced painful erythema of both lower legs. Several weeks later, medical examination revealed dirty and granulated ulceration of the both shins. The largest ulcer, about 18 by 10 centimeters, was located on the anterior aspect of left lower leg. We coneluded that this skin problem resulted from the ertreme alkalinity of calcium hydroxide in wet cement, combined with the effects of pressure and occlusion against the skin.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Adverse health outcomes in residents exposed to cement dust
Kyung Tae Cha, Sung Soo Oh, Jin Ha Yoon, Ki Hyun Lee, Sung Kyung Kim, Bong Suk Cha, Sang Ha Kim, Ae Young Eom, Sang Baek Koh
Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences.2011; 3(4): 239. CrossRef

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