RISK-FACTORS FOR HIGH BLOOD-PRESSURE AMONG WORKERS IN FRENCH POULTRY SLAUGHTERHOUSES AND CANNERIES

The aim of the present study is to examine the relationship between th e working conditions of employees in the food industry and blood press ure. An epidemiological survey was conducted between 1987 and 1988 in 17 poultry slaughterhouses and 6 canneries in the French regions of 'B retagne' and 'Pays de Loire'. One thousand, four hundred and seventy-f our workers were included in the study. Data was collected in the cour se of the medical visit organized annually for employees. Mean diastol ic (DBP) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were analyzed separately fo r male and female workers. The results indicate a significant relation ship between blood pressure, and age and obesity. Amongst the various features of working condition studies, loud noise and the number of wo rk breaks were found to be associated with heightened mean values of D BP or SBP in men only. Type and size of the factory was found to be as sociated with blood pressure readings for both sexes. A number of work ing conditions giving rise to heightened mental strain were found to b e related to a lowering in mean blood pressure: for example, irregular work finishing times for men and production-line work for women. A di scussion of these results reveals the complexity of the relationships which exist between physical and environmental factors in this type of setting and blood pressure of employees.