Leather workers

Dimethylformamide-induced liver damage among synthetic leather workers. Arch, environ. 

The second step in the preparation of the skin is the removal of the epidermis and its load of hair by bucking, which involves soaking the skin in a solution of water and lime. Early leather workers used wood ash to produce the lye. The hair usually slips off during or after the soaking, and the unwanted upper layer of skin may be then scraped off. In modem tanneries, this process is done by machines, but traditionally it is accomplished by hand. If the desired end-product is a leather that is not flexible or elastic, then the skin can be left in the lye solution for a prolonged period. This is known as liming. After the hair and upper skin layer have been removed, the skin must be carefully rinsed to get rid of any residual alkalis. 

Amaducci L, Arfioli C, Inzitari D, Mrachi M. Multiple sclerosis among shoe and leather workers An epidemiological survey in Florence. Acta Neurol Scand 1982, 65(2) 94 103. 

Patent leather workers Scrap metal workers Tetramethyl lead workers... 

Further investigations, funded by the European Commission CRAFT programme, have also been undertaken to develop a leather with both the resistance to acidic atmospheric attack exhibited by mineral tanned leathers and the physical characteristics of vegetable-tanned skins demanded by book binders and other leather workers. As a result of this work, leathers with these properties are now available commercially. 

The wallet shown here was made by a custom leather-worker. If you have a friend in the business you can get it done professionally. Otherwise, you can pidc up a wallet kit at any craft shop and do it yourself. 

Wad-pnneh. A tubular steel punch used for cutting gnii-wails, etc. A similar punch is used by leather-workers and others. 

Hairdresser Baker Electroplaters Florfet Confectioner Tile setters Plumber Metal. Surfiaoeworker Dental technician Cooks Health service Mechanician Leather worker... 

Health service workers Mechanics Leather workers... 

MS has been associated with solvent exposures. Shoe and leather workers, who are exposed to numerous hydrocarbon- and ketone-containing glues, were observed to have an almost fivefold greater risk for MS than the general population [57]. Other smdies showed an increased risk for MS in those who are occupationally exposed to solvents, ionizing radiation, and welding fumes, as well as for those who were in contact with animals [58, 59]. Epidemiological studies have also shown an association... 

Stem FB, Beaumont JJ, Halperin WE, et al. 1987. Mortality of chrome leather tannery workers and chemical exposures in tanneries. Scand J Work Environ Health 13 108-117. 

Pentachlorophenol concentrations in urine and serum can be used as biomarkers of internal dose (Colosio et al., 1993a). PCP concentrations up to about 30 mg/L were detected in urine samples of exposed workers, while concentrations lower than 0.3 mg/L were detected in the general population. The presence of PCP in biological samples of the general population is attributable to indoor exposure to the compound released from treated materials (furniture, leather, paints, etc.). 

Case reports of testicular cancer in leather tannery workers and aircraft mechanics have suggested an association with DMF, but further epidemiological studies have not confirmed the relationship. ... 

Many dietary and environmental factors have been implicated as possible etiologic factors in the development of pancreatic cancer, but no definite causal relationships have been established. The strongest evidence points to cigarette smoking as a risk factor associated with pancreatic cancer (20-24). Occupational exposure to certain chemicals has also been linked to pancreatic carcinoma (25). Others in the high-risk group include stone miners, cement workers, gardeners, textile workers, and leather tanners (17,26). 

Table IX. Levels of PCDDs and PCDFs in blood samples from workers in textile and leather industry after exposure to PCP or PCP derivatives.

A similar study was performed in the textile industry where the workers were exposed during the fabrics impregnation, and in the leather industry where the workers were exposed during the tanning process. In these two branches pentachlorophenol or pen-tachlorophenol laurate were used, products highly contaminated by PCDDs, the level of PCDFs being much lower, see Table III. The values of the blood and urine analyses are given in Table IX. 

Tannery B. This tannery, also located in New England, employs 80 workers who process about 700 hides per day producing fully tanned and colored leather which are shipped to a separate facility, Tannery E, for surface and mechanical finishes. During the site visit on October 12, 1978, 19 air samples and 4 bulk samples were collected. The air samples were collected at all stages of the tanning operation. The bulk samples consisted of two waste water specimens, one steam system condensate and one floor scraping from the dye room. 

Tannery E. This tannery, located in New England on the third floor of a three story brick building, occupies 40,000 sq. ft and employs 60 workers who apply surface finishes to leather that has been fully tanned and colored at Tannery B. On the day this plant was visited (October 13, 1978) 17 air samples were taken at all stages of production. While there were many chemicals and dyes being used at this plant there were no known sources for amines or nitrosating agents. 

All workers must wear special clothes of heavy wool, leather or asbestos to protect them from brief but very hot flame. Hands must be protected with gloves that leave the fingertips bare so that the workers retain the sense of touch in the fingers, otherwise the hand may be drawn between the rolls. 

According to the 1981-83 United States National Occupational Exposure Survey (NOES, 1997), as many as 125 000 workers in the United States were potentially exposed to dimethylformamide (see General Remarks). Occupational exposures to dimethylformamide may occur in the production of the chemical, other organic chemicals, resins, fibres, coatings, inks and adhesives. Exposure also may occur during use of these coatings, inks, adhesives, in the synthetic leather industry, in the tanning industry and in the repair of aircraft (Ducatman et al., 1986 lARC, 1989). 

Levin et al. (1987), in a letter to the editor, described three cases of embryonal-cell carcinoma of the testis in workers at one leather tannery in the United States. According to the authors, all the tanneries they had surveyed used dimethylformamide, as well as a wide range of dyes and solvents. A screening effort to identify additional testicular cancers at the leather tannery with the three cases was undertaken in 1989 (Calvert et al., 1990). Fifty-one of 83 workers employed at the plant between 1975 and 1989 participated. No additional case of testicular cancer was identified. 

For the most part, the workers did not wear gloves or special protective clothing. Typical attire for members of the spray crews included long trousers, long or short sleeved shirt, and cloth sneakers, leather shoes or field boots. All wore hats except four members of the backpack crew. 

While the development of direct dyes was essentially completed in the 1930s, it was reactivated in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was found that benzidine, an important direct dye intermediate at the time, is carcinogenic. Benzidine dyes are used for some yellows and reds and mostly for black. In view of the ensuing concern, the leading dye producers withdrew benzidine-based dyes preemptively to protect their workers, dyers, and consumers. Studies to find alternative dyes were undertaken, and this work led eventually to many of today s most important black dyes for leather, e.g,C.I. DirectBlack 168, 30410 [85631-88-5] (16). 

Uses Aniline is an oily liquid used in the manufacture of dyestuffs, intermediates for dyestuffs, and manufacture of rubber accelerators and antioxidant substances. Aniline has been extensively used as an intermediate in the manufacture of plastics, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, isocyanates, and hydroquinones. Occupational exposure to aniline is extensive and as diverse as its industrial uses. Workers associated with the manufacturing of acetanalide bromide, coal tar, colors and dyes, leather, disinfectants, nitraniline, perfumes, rubber, and photographic materials become victims of adverse effects from aniline. 

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