Abstract
Hairdressers are exposed to various chemical factors and agents that cause occupational respiratory and skin diseases.
Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of occupational allergy in apprentices hairdressers and hairdressers from the region of Lodz in Poland.
Material and methods: Prospective study was done in apprentices. A group of apprentices hairdressers were tested twice (34 at the beginning of education and 21 at the end) for respiratory and skin allergy. 54 hairdressers were tested for respiratory and 40 for skin allergy.
Results: The prevalence of respiratory symptoms in apprentices after two years at school was not significantly higher after 2 years of education. One student became sensitized to latex. Positive skin prick tests to common allergens was a risk factor of rhinitis related to work in apprentices hairdressers OR = 9,75 (CI 1,03 – 14,64).
Prevalence of cough, dyspnoe and rhinitis was significantly higher in hairdressers than apprentices in the 1st class (p<0,05). Smoking was a risk factor of dyspnoe OR=2,37 (95%CI 1,07-5,28) and rhinitis OR=2,44 (95%CI 1,1-5,3) in hairdressers.
Two of 54 hairdressers was sensitized to ammonium persulfate and one to paraphenylenediamine. One subject had an occupational astma diagnosis.
Contact allergy was common in hairdressers and apprentices, however more prevalent in the first group.
Conclusions:
Respiratory symptoms were not the most important health problem in apprentices hairdressers at the end of education probably due to “healthy worker effect”.
Hypersensitivity to common allergens in apprentices and smoking in hairdressers were risk factors of respiratory symptoms.
- © 2011 ERS
