Health Hazards of Plating Workers

Park, Jung Gyun; Roh, Jaehoon; Lee, Kyung Jong; Moon, Young Hahn

Abstract

Chromic acid has widely been used for decorative chromium plating, hard chromium plating, and surface treatment of raw materials. However, its strong oxidizing action has been found to cause corrosion of mucous membranes and skin, such as the nasal septum, conjunctiva, face, and hand skin. Excessive exposure to chmmic acid has frequently caused ulceration and perforation of a nasal septum. These ulcerations are painless and confined to the cartilaginous portion at the lower anterior part of the septum known as Kisselbach's or Little's area. This study was undertaken to investigate the general characteristics, actual conditions of the working environment and the prevalence rate of nasal septal perforation due to inhalation of chromic acid mist in workers employed at plating industries. This study was conducted on 627 workers who were exposed to chromic acid from July to November 1988. The results were summarized as follows: 1. The mean age of workers with septal perforation was 26 years and the mean working duration was 84 months. 2. The prevalence rates of nasal septal perforation and ulceration of mucosa of the plating workers were 31.7% and 10.5% respectively. 3. The significant variables related with occurrence of nasal septal perforation were age of workers, working duration, kinds of plating, efficiency of local ventilation and performance of health examinations. From the above results, occurrences of nasal septal perforation in plating workers were affected by the duration of chromium exposed work and state of the working environment. Prevention of occupationsl diseases fri plating workers will be accomplished by implementation of an industrial health care system which includes thorough health checkups for workers and regular environmental monitoring.