OCCUPATIONAL EFFECTS ON THE HEALTH OF WORKERS AND LABORATORY TECHNICIANS IN PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS

A study was conducted over a 3-year period on the morbidity in petroch emical plants producing xylene, benzene, phenol and acetone, and in th e related service laboratory. The incidence rate of system and target organ disorders due to the adverse effects of benzene, toluene, xylene , phenol, acetone, etc., was calculated. The exposure to chemical haza rds (except benzene) of plant workers was not high - the concentration s were below the maximum allowable concentrations (MACs) and the durat ion of contact was not longer than 270 min per 8-h shift. The duration of exposure for laboratory technicians (all female) comprised an enti re 8-h working shift, but concentrations of the chemical substances di d not exceed MACs. The incidence rate of system and target organ disor ders as a total of all production plants was 6% on average over the 3- year period, and for laboratory workers it was 10.3%. The average tota l incidence rate (comprising all diseases) was 42% in the production p lants and comparatively greater in the laboratory - 56% as an average for the period. Since laboratory technician posts are well mainly by w omen in Bulgaria, recommedations are to minimze contact with chemical hazards for women of child-bearing age, as was the case for benzene.