Leather workers’ exposure

Nickel sulfate, 5% pet (increased rates of nickel allergies in leather and shoe industry workers exposure from tools )... 

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.). 

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.

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). 

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. 

Studies of chromate production workers, who are exposed to a variety of chromium compounds both hexavalent and trivalent, and chromate pigment industries, where exposure is mainly to chromium(VI), have consistently demonstrated an association with respiratory system cancer. Studies in chrome platers, who are exposed to chromium(VI) and other agents, including nickel, generally support the conclusion that certain chromium(VI) compounds are carcinogenic. Studies in stainless steel welders exposed to chromium(VI) and other chemicals, and in ferrochromium alloy workers, who are exposed mainly to chromium(O) and chromium(III), but also to some chromium(VI), were inconclusive. Studies in leather tanners, who are exposed to chromium(III), were consistently negative. 

Leather Tanning. Studies of workers in tanneries, where exposure is mainly to chromium(III), in the United States (0.002-0.054 mg total chromium/m3) (Stern et al. 1987), the United Kingdom (no concentration specified) (Pippard et al. 1985), and in the Federal Republic of Germany (no concentration specified) (Korallus et al. 1974a) reported no association between exposure to chromium(III) and excess risk of cancer. 

Another study revealed effects, ranging from mild to severe, of benzene exposure in factory workers in China (Yin et al. 1987c). The primary activities in these factories were the manufacture of paints, shoes, rubber, leather, and/or adhesives (Yin et al. 1987c). Of the 528,729 workers, 95% were exposed to mixtures of benzene, toluene, and xylene, while 5% (26,319 workers) were exposed to benzene alone at 0.02-264 ppm in air in 95% of the work stations. Over half of the work stations had levels of benzene in the air of less than 13 ppm about 1% had levels of 13-264 ppm. Benzene toxicity, as indicated by leukopenia (leukocyte <4,000/mm3), aplastic anemia, and leukemia, was seen in 0.94% of the workers exposed to benzene and 0.44% of the workers exposed to the mixtures. Similar toxicity was found in employees of 28 of the 141 shoe factories studied (124 cases in 2,740 employees) (Yin et al. 1987c). A positive correlation was observed for prevalence of adverse benzene effects and benzene concentration in data from these 28 shoe factories. The authors determined that the affected people were exposed to benzene concentrations >29 ppm. In one workshop, there were 4 cases of aplastic anemia in 211 workers. These workers were exposed to benzene at a mean concentration of 324 ppm during an 8-month period of employment. The prevalence of aplastic anemia in the shoe-making industry was about 5.8 times that in the general population. The main limitation of this study is the lack of information on the duration of exposure. 

Occupational exposure to formamide may occur through inhalation and dermal contact with this compound at workplaces where formamide is produced or used. Formamide, a physiological product of N,N-dimethylformamide, was detected in the urine of synthetic leather factory workers. Formamide may be inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin. The chemical is moderately irritating to the skin and can produce from mild to severe irritation to the eye. In its usual application, inhalation is the most common route of exposure although dermal contact is always possible. 

Most of the chemicals in Table 11.2 target the respiratory system and CNS. Exposures in arts and crafts use are almost always to mixtures of lipophilic and hydrophilic chemicals. When used in areas with poor air circulation (as is often the case in home use) the result can be unexpected acute toxicity. For example, it has been reported that exposure to formaldehyde and terpene hydrocarbons at very low levels unexpectedly produced dyspnea and other lower-lung symptoms in wood workers. The effects could not be attributed to either the formaldehyde or the terpenes alone at low levels of exposure In another example, it was reported that chronic exposure to a combination of very low concentrations of MEK, ethyl acetate, and aliphatic hydrocarbons in a leather adhesive formulation induced unanticipated CNS effects. Some products that are considered by most... 

EXPOSURE ROUTES workers involved with fabricated metal products, wholesale trade, leather, rubber, plastic, chemical products... 

EXPOSURE ROUTES low levels in water pressurized spray containers or paints lacquers enamels dyes workers in garment and leather industries printing and paper industries homecraft industries inhalation percutaneous adsorption emissions wastewater... 

Detroit and New Orleans. Frequency of chromium dermatitis was highest in constmc-tion workers using cement. Other occupational exposures associated with chromium sensitivity include chromium plating, tanning of leather, application of anticorrosive agents, and printing. Oral ingestion of chromium com-poimds can sometimes lead to skin reactions in sensitive people. Hexavalent chromium com-poimds are more potent inducers and elicitors of skin sensitivity than trivalent chromium compoimds, probably because Cr+ com-poimds can penetrate die skin more readily than Cr+ compoimds. 

Often, it is almost impossible to determine the individual occupational exposure of leather-industry workers. The biocides to which they are exposed by handling semi-processed leather are unknown to the... 

A number of more recent case reports have shown the lack of efficacy of water decontamination for such chemical skin exposures. These include a dilute 4 % sodium hydroxide oven cleaning compound [213], two cases of sodium hydroxide injury to the hands and feet [214], an occupational exposure to sodium hydroxide in a leather-processing facility [215], two workers with dermal exposure to titanium tetrachloride [216], seven Saudi Arabian children exposed when they tipped over a drum of sulfuric acid... 

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