OCCUPATIONAL FACTORS IN WORK-RELATED INHALATIONS - INFERENCES FOR PREVENTION STRATEGY

As part of a larger investigation of inhalational toxic exposures, we studied occupationally related cases in order to examine possible prev entive strategies. We analyzed data from 224 structured interviews. Of the interviewed subjects, 48 (21%) reported closed space exposures an d 44 (20%) concomitant skin exposure at the time of inhalation. Chlori ne gas and bleach mixtures were the most common single reported exposu re type, occurring in 54 (24%) of cases. The most common occupational groups represented were crafts workers, operatives, and laborers (n = 84, 38%), and service workers (n = 64, 29%). Adjusting for occupationa l group in a multiple logistic regression analysis that also included length of hire and access to personal respiratory protective equipment , report of prior specific chemical safety training was significantly protective against closed space inhalation (odds ratio (OR) = 0.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.1-0.4) and concomitant skin exposure (OR = 0.3, 95% CI = 0.1-0.7). These data suggest that chemical safety train ing may be an effective preventive strategy for potentially high-risk inhalational exposure scenarios. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.