Objective Through monitor the occupational dimethylformamide (DMF) exposure sentinels, to estimate exposure level, population distribution, and health impact among DMF exposed workers in Kunshan.
Methods Standard questionnaires of “Jiangsu key occupational diseases monitoring technical guideline” were used to collect date on the general information of enterprises and workers, occupational history, and health status, etc. A continuous measuring plan was applied to workstations involved DMF exposure, and 525 workers exposed to DMF in the selected enterprises were invited to health examination.
Results There were 12 enterprises with DMF hazards, and 72 out of 81 surveillance sites were qualified, with an unqualified rate of 11.1%. Among the 525 workers exposed to DMF, 58.3% reported bloating, 32% suffered from loss of appetite, and 55 workers (10.5%) had abnormal liver function. The unqualified rate of air DMF in the electronics industry was significantly higher than that of the chemical or the light industry (P< 0.05), and the rate of abnormal liver function in DMF exposed workers in the chemical industry was also significantly higher than that of the workers in other industries (P< 0.05). The abnormal liver function rates were different among workers categorized by DMF levels (P< 0.05). No significant differences were observed in abnormal liver function rates among workers with different working ages or exposure hours per week (P> 0.05).
Conclusion DMF hazards in occupational environment can't be ignored. Close attentions to DMF concentrations at workplaces and corresponding intervention measures are required to protect the health of occupational populations.
DownLoad: