A QUESTIONNAIRE STUDY OF ROAD PAVERS AND ROOFERS WORK-RELATED SKIN SYMPTOMS AND BITUMEN EXPOSURE

Background Skin contact with the components in asphalt and bitumen can lead to irritant and allergic contact dermatitis, but few data are av ailable in the dermatologic literature on the skin symptoms caused by work with bitumen. In addition, working methods have changed markedly during recent decades. Methods A questionnaire was delivered to 50 roo fers and 101 road pavers. The questionnaire dealt with skin symptoms, symptoms caused by solvent products, the use of personal protection, s moking, eating habits, work conditions, changing and cleaning of overa lls, etc. Results Forty-eight per cent of the road pavers and 58 % of the roofers responded to the questionnaire. Relatively high percentage s of work-induced skin irritation were reported by both the roofers (4 4 %) and the road pavers (31 %); 22 % of the road pavers had dermatiti s often or sometimes compared with 15 % of the roofers. The hands, arm s, face, and lower extremities were the most common sites affected. In addition to bitumen products, the road pavers considered amine adhesi on-improving agents for paving and naphtha and solvents used in machin e repairs, to be the main causes of their skin symptoms. The skin prob lems of the roofers were caused by man-made mineral fibers, cutback bi tumen, and hot bitumen burns. Conclusions Roofers endure greater expos ure to chemicals than road pavers. Certain components, e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in bitumen, can be absorbed through the skin. S kin exposure should be lowered by keeping the tools, working clothes, shoes, and gloves clean. Overalls and gloves are recommended to be cha nged at least once a week, Water laundering is not sufficient in disso lving bitumen from overalls and underwear, Cleaning the skin with solv ents or naphtha is not recommended, as they are skin irritants.