Health Management and Health Status of Paint Workers in Kaohsiung City

• Main Authors: Yin-Tai Lee, 李穎泰
• Other Authors: Yong-Yuan Chang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2005
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/89499697011622005710

碩士 === 高雄醫學大學 === 公共衛生學研究所碩士在職專班 === 93 === Objectives: The main purpose of this study is to understand the painters’ self-health-care concepts, protecting steps adopted in workplace, working pressure index, and health condition after long-term exposure to an environment containing lead-based paints and organic solvents, and further submit policies for health administration. Method: In this study, samples were collected and screened under the assistance of the Paint Workers’ Association. About 20% (200 workers) of the workers receiving the test were engaged in rust-resistant operation according to the judgement of occupational disease doctors. Among them, 60-80 persons with the longest working period were deemed to be the high dangerous groups with high blood lead concentration. Their working pressure was examined through practical visiting and investigation as to their working procedures and environment, including whether they adopted proper protective measures or not when they used the paints and solvents, if the working environment is well ventilated, etc. One blue index scale questionnaire (Self-examination Scale of John Tung Foundation) was also used to survey the working pressure. The people who were considered as target high dangerous group were sent to a recognized laboratory for blood lead concentration test. Then, the comments of doctors and other relevant health information were discussed through inductive analysis. Results: 1.In all of the 878 painters over 40 years old, 208 painters received the examination. The examination rate was 23.69%. 2.The average value of blood lead concentration in the high dangerous group is 6.00 □g/dl. The maximum values found in men and women are 25.9 □g/dl and 7.9 □g/dl respectively, which are lower than the monitoring values of 40 and 30 □g/dl respectively. 3.The urine, blood and biochemical tests showed higher abnormal rate, especially in the tests of urine protein, occult blood, white blood cells, blood sugar, creatinine, triglyceride, and chest X ray (roentagenology of chest). They are 19.67%, 20.22%, 13.55%, 14.36%, 5.85%, 34.57%, and 11.65% respectively. 4.The abnormal rate of cancer test is also higher in screening for cervical cancer (6.25%), breast cancer (6.90%), and oral cancer (1.65%). 5.For discomfort of bone and muscle, the neck pain is in the majority (35.48%), the next are shoulder pain (34.95%), and lower back pain (32.80%), etc. 6.To evaluate the working pressure index with the blue index scale, it was found that the workers having a cut-off point of 19 account for 4.33%. Conclusion and Suggestions: 1.It is proper for painters to receive physical examination and blood lead concentration test once a year in order to reach the goal of “early discovery, early treatment”. 2.The painters belong to high dangerous group of female cancer, oral cancer and chronic diseases. The health authority should pay more attention to them and enhance the prevention and control of such diseases. The painters who are found to be abnormal in the physical examination should receive transfer examination as soon as possible. 3.The occupational injuries to neck and back of the painters have been quite a serious problem. Effort should be made to improve the same through education and provision of immediate referral service. 4.To provide education and training on self-health and safety protection to painters in order to avoid occupational hazard. 5.The health authority should cooperate with relevant organizations or units to organize a special health maintenance team for health management of painters.