Epidemiologic study on the dermatologic disordes from cutting oil

Park, Byoung Chan; Lee, Jun Young; Kim, Hyung Ok; Kim, Chung Won

Abstract

We performed an epidemiologic survey to investigate the dermatologic problems from cutting oils in metal workers. The personal questionnaires and dermatologic examinations were performed on 360 metal workers who were working at 50 metal industries. The pH meter (HANNA 8520) and the atomic absorption spectrometer(G.B.C. 902) were employed to measure the pH values of cutting oil and the concentration of heavy metals contained in cutting oil respeetively. The results were as follows : 1. The prevalence rates of the dermatologic disorders from cutting oil were 46.0% of eontact dermatitis, 10.9% of black comedone, and 7.1% of paronychia in orders. The dermatologic disorders that seemed to be not directly associsted with cutting oil were callosity(19.1%), burn by metal chips(9.8%), and mechanical injury(5.7%). 2. The localizations of the contact dermatitis and the black cemedone from cutting oil were 84% of hands, 6.6% of face, and 5% af forearms. More detailed localizations of the contact dermatitis and black comedone that developed in hand were 29.6% if finger tip, 27.6% of palm and palm finger, and 19.1% of palm finger only in orders. 3. The prevalence rates of the dermatologic disorders by the of cutting oil were 51.5% of soluble oil, 68.8% of insoluble oil, and 80.8% of mixed cutting oil which containing both soluble and insoluble oil. 4. The mean pH value of aoluble cutting oil was 8.0 and that of insoluble cutting oil was 7.0. 5. The concentrations of heavy metals contained in soluble oil were 32.2 mg/m3 of chrome, 6.42 mg/m3 of nickel, and 4.85 mg/m3 of cobalt. The concentrations of heavy metals contained in inspluble oil were 24.11 mg/m of chrome, 4.63 mg/m3 of nickel, and 2.30 mg/m3 of cobalt.