This document discusses various occupational hazards including lead poisoning from industries like smelting and recycling, radiation hazards from industries like nuclear power and medical imaging, occupational dermatitis from chemical exposure, occupational cancers caused by chemicals, dusts and radiation, and hazards for agricultural workers like zoonotic diseases, accidents, toxic chemicals and physical hazards. It provides details on the causes, health effects, treatments and preventive measures for many of these occupational hazards.

1. Abinash Kumar Mandal
MBBS 3rd Year
Birat Medical College
(Kathmandu University)27th nov 2018 (1)
Occupational
Hazards

2. TOPICS :
Lead poisoning
Radiation hazards
Occupational dermatitis
Occupational cancer
Occupational hazards of agricultural worker
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3. A) Plumbism/Pb82Poisoning
 An increase to 70µg/100 ml blood is associated with clinical symptoms (
normal approx. 25µg/100 ml)
 95% of ingested lead is exerted via faeces
 5% of taken by bone, released to soft tissues and some involved to
porphyrin synthesis & carbohydrate metabolism
 All form of pb are toxic but lead sulphide is least toxic
 Mode of absorption : mostly by
• Inhalation
• Ingestion,
• skin (only organic form)
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4. people can become exposed to lead through occupational and environmental sources. This mainly
results from inhalation of lead particles generated by burning materials containing lead, for example,
during smelting, recycling, stripping leaded paint, and using leaded gasoline or leaded aviation fuel
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) estimated that in 2016 lead exposure accounted
for 540 000 deaths and 13.9 million years of healthy life lost (disability-adjusted life years (DALYs))
worldwide due to long-term effects on health
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6. Lead Induced gingival depigmentation also termed as Burtonian Line
 Gingival depigmentation
Lead in the body is distributed to the brain,
liver, kidney and bones. It is stored in the
teeth and bones, where it accumulates over
time
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7. Lab Investigation :
 Amino levulinic acid in urine >5mg/ litre is diagnostic criteria
 coproporphyrin (normal<150µgm/l) in urine useful for screening test
 lead in blood and urine
 basophilic stipling
Prevention :
 Substitution & Isolation
 local exhaust ventilation & personal protection
 good house keeping,
 working atmosphere ; < 2mg/10 cubic metre
 periodic examination of workers & personal hygiene
 health education
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8. Treatment for lead poisoning varies depending on how much lead in the
blood
• Small amounts often can be treated rather easily
• The most important part of therapy is reduction of lead exposure
• Gradually, as the body naturally eliminates the lead, the level of lead in the
blood will fall.
Persons with severe cases and extremely high lead levels in their blood
• Hospitalized to receive a medication called a chelating agent
Succimer,which chemically binds with lead, making it weaker so the body
can get rid of it naturally
Calcium, iron, and vit. C are important parts of a healthy diet and also
help to reduce the way the body absorbs lead
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9. B) RADIATION HAZARDS
radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles
through space or through a material medium
• 2 types ionizing : i)Non-ionising radiation :-
Ultraviolet light : Farmers, painters, sailors and road builders are prone to excess
ultraviolet radiation due to constant exposure to sun. Ultraviolet light is also
emitted by carbon arcs, electric welding and other sources to which electricians,
welders, metal moulders and atomic energy investigators, etc. are exposed.
Microwaves : They are short waves used in radar communications on ships,
aeroplanes, etc. They raise the temperature of tissues. The lens of the eye is very
susceptible and cataract may develop on excessive exposure
INFRARED RADIATION: exposure may occur to glass blowers
and oven workers in glass industry where hot molten glass
emits infrared rays
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10. ii) IONIZING(αβγ) RADIATION :
 On entering the body, ionizing radiations damage the cells by causing
ionization, particularly in the nucleus The examples of occupational
exposure to ionizing radiation are as follows:
 Persons working in departments of radiology, radiotherapy and nuclear
medicine are at risk of excess exposure.
 Painters of which radium dials are exposed as they moisten the brush
with the tongue.
Radioisotopes are used in industry to find flaws in casting and to detect
the content of metallic containers
Soldiers may be exposed to nuclear explosions for military purposes
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12. Effects of non ionizing radiation :
Effects on the skin include erythema, darkening of the
skin (suntan, Prolonged exposure may result in squamous cell
carcinoma or basal cell epithelioma (rodent ulcer).
Effects upon the eye include keratitis caused by absorption of
ultraviolet light by the cornea, snow blindness
Intense exposure to infrared rays and microwave leads to
cataract.
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13. HAZARDS OF IONIZING RADIATIONS:
may be acute burns, dermatitis and blood dyscrasias
and chronic exposure may cause malignancies and
genetic defects, exposure to pregnant woman may
cause congenital anomalies
Pregnant women and children are more prone to
radiation hazards
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14. Prevention :
Inhalation, swallowing or direct contact with skin should be
avoided
Shielding should be used in case of x-rays
Suitable protecting clothing to prevent from radiation
Adequate ventilation of work place to protect from
inhalation
Periodic examination of workers
Pregnant women should not be allowed to work
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15. C) Occupational dermatitis
is a non-infectious disease caused by skin contact with substances used at
work. Depending on the types of substances present, dermatitis may take two forms:
a) allergic contact Dermatitis
b) irritant contact Dermatitis.
Allergic contact dermatitis results when a person becomes sensitized to a substance
(allergen). The person then develops an allergy to the substance and will react whenever in
contact with that substance, no matter how minute the exposure. Reaction may range from
minor to serious effects. Sensitization may occur within days of exposure, but usually takes
months or years
Irritant contact dermatitis occurs when the skin is exposed to a mild irritant (such as
detergent or solvents) repeatedly over a long period of time or to a strong irritant (such as
acids, alkalis, solvents, strong soaps, or cleansing compounds) that can cause immediate skin
damage. Only the section of skin in contact with the substance will be affected.
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16. Allergic Contact Dermatitis Irritant Contact Dermatitis
Reddening of skin Mild swelling of skin
Dry, scaly patches Stiff, tight feeling in skin
Hives Dry cracking skin
Burning or itching Blisters
Swelling in eyes Localized reactions (area where contact was made)
Reactions can spread beyond the area where
contact was made
Reactions can spread beyond the area where
contact was made
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17. Prevention:
 Pre-selection : should be medically examined for allergy b4 employment and those who
are suspected and had a previous history of skin disease should be kept away
Protection : protective clothing, long leather gloves, aprons, Goggles, boot and should be
frequently washed
Personal hygiene : adequate facility for washing should be available according to factories
act
Periodic inspection : periodic medical check up of all workers for early detection
Treatment :-
Topical ointment is first line of treatment
Corticosteroids
Antibiotics should be used to reduce sec. infections
UV light treatment
Immunomodulating agents : Mycophenolic acid, Azathioprine and Methotrexate
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18. D) Occupational cancer
Occupational exposure to chemicals, dusts, radiation, and certain industrial processes have
been tied to occupational cancer. Carcinogens in the workplace may include :
Chemicals : anilines, chromates, dinitrotoluenes, arsenic and inorganic arsenic, beryllium,
beryllium, cadmium, and nickel compounds.
Dusts : leather or wood dusts, asbestos, crystalline forms of silica
Radiation : coke oven emissions, radon gas and industrial, medical, or other exposure to
ionizing radiation can all cause cancer in the workplace.
Industrial processes : aluminum production, iron and steel founding and underground mining
with exposure to uranium or radon.
Shift work, which can disturb the circadian rhythm, has also been identified as a risk factor for
some forms of cancer, in particular for breast cancer.
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19. Cancer Source Examples of Occupations
Skin Arsenic, coal tars, paraffin, certain
oils, sunlight
Chimney sweeping; outside jobs that involve a lot of sun exposure
Kidney
Cadmium, trichloroethylene,
herbicides, wood dust
Painting; metalworking; petroleum , plastics, and textile
industries
Larynx Asbestos, wood dust, paint fumes Metal working; petroleum, rubber , plastics, and textile industries
Leukemia
Formaldehyde, benzene,
ethyleneoxide, pesticides
Rubber manufacturing; oil refining;shoemaking
Liver Arsenic, vinyl chloride, aflatoxins Plastic manufacturing
Lung
Radon, secondhand smoke,
asbestos,arsenic, cadmium,
chromium compounds,
diesel exhaust, sulfur mustard
Rubber manufacturing, paving , roofing, painting, chimney
sweeping,
iron and steel foundry work, welding
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20.  Prevention and control :
 Elimination or control of industrial carcinogen
 Medical examination, Inspection of factories
 Notification
 licensing of establishments
 personal hygiene maintain
 education of workers and management, research
Cancer Source Examples of Occupations
Lymphoma
Benzene, 1, 3-butadiene, ethyleneoxide, herbicides,
insecticides
Rubber manufacturing, painting,
hairdresser or barber
Nasal cavity and
sinus
Mustard gas, nickel dust, chromium dust, leather dust, wood
dust, radium
Textile industries, furniture and
cabinet builders, shoemaking
Bladder Benzidine, beta-naphthylamine,4-aminobiphenyl, arsenic
Rubber, leather, printing and textile
industries; paint/
dyeing products; chimney sweeping;
machinists; hairdressers and barbers;
truck drivers
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21. E) Occupational hazards of Agricultural workers
Zoonotic disease : due to close contact with animal and their product lead
to Couse zoonotic such as brucellosis, anthrax, leptospirosis, tetanus,
tuberculosis and Q fever
Accident : Due to farming tools, mechanized equipment's, snake bite, dog
bite and other trauma from handling of farm animals, eyes injuries
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22. Toxic hazards : fertilizers, insecticides or pesticides(DDT) lead to cause OPP, limb deformity,
joint dysfunction and visual ,Disabilities, Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome (ODTS), carcinoma,
According to WHO estimates, one million people are globally affected by chemical
pesticides every year and 20,000 of them die. 15000 of these deaths occur in the
developing countries, though these countries use only one-sixth of the chemical pesticides
used worldwide.
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23. Physical hazards : Due to extremes of temperature , ultraviolet radiation,
noise and inadequate ventilation
Respiratory disease : exposure to dust, rice husks, coconuts fiber, tea ,
tobacco may cause occupational asthma and lung disease like chronic
bronchitis
Prevention :-
 use of Personal Protective Equipment
Eye Care Protection
Proper training for use of Equipment and
Machinery
Personal hygiene
Regular health check up
Proper health education
Proper Animals handeling
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24. Reference:-
 K. Park textbook preventive & social medicine
 Mahajan & gupta textbook of preventive medicine
 And special thanks to BMCTH community medicine department
THANK YOU…
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