The Survey of Occupational Dermatoses in a Semiconductor Industry for 3 years

Kim, Kea Jeung; Suh, Kwang Suk; Kang, Hyung Jai

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Occupational dermatoses are increasing tendency in Korea. But there were only a few reports about occupational dermatoses in Korean dermatologic literatures. OBJECT: For the effective preventive method and having interest in occupational dermatoses, we have done wide ranged basic study about the occupational dermatoses for 3 years in a semiconductor industry.
METHODS
The number of workers of the semiconductor industry was 10,500(male 5,000, female 5,500) and finally the number of analysed patients in this survey was 2,736. A dermatologist attended regularly at the clinic in a semiconductor industry once a week for the duration of 3 years from June 1992 to May 1995. Diagnosis was made by clinical findings and investigation about the working environment.
RESULTS
1. The most common dermatoses are contact dermatitis(14.3%), acne(14.0%), seborrheic dermatitis(7.1%) and tinea pedis(6.9%). Urticaria, hand eczerna, abscess, onychomycosis, t.inea versicol or and chemical burn were also observed frequently. 2. Chemical burn(2.0%), contact dermatitis(1.4%) and acne(0.8%) were the most important occupation related dermatoses in this survey. Hydrofluoric acid(1.4%) was the main cause of chemical burn. The occupationa contact dermatitis and acne in this survey were mainly came from the mask, hood and dust preventing clothes which the workers must wear for 8 hours a day at working place. 3. The other dermatoses related to occupation were hand eczema, trauma, nummular eczema, atopic dermatitis, etc..
CONCLUSION
This study regardless of insufficient inspection equipment was done for a relatively long period in the semiconductor industry. In the future, many studies like this will be reported and the studies will give a model of management of occupational dermatoses in Korea.