Abstract
Background and Objectives: Cement plays a crucial role in economic and industrial development and its role in developing urban area has always been being insisted .12 cement producing factory are working in Iran that employ at least 10000 presonels. Since cement composed of various artificial materials, disease related to this materials has been always the focus of attention and dermatitis is the most compelling disease that impose cost and waste the working time. This study aims at determing the incidence of dermatitis among workers considering different variables mentioned below.
Materials and Methods: This deseriptive study was performed on Suffian cement factory (Tabriz) workers . 542 workers between 21-60 years old were randomely selected. We include different variables such as: work period, type of contact with cement, the place of work in the factory, the duration of work, the site of commencement of the disease and predisposing factors. The worker were asked to fill in the questionaires.
Results: Of 542 persons enrolled, 153 ( % 27.06) suffered from dermatitis and most of them mentioned that they found their disease first on the palms. Furthure more there was a significant correlation between the place of work in the factory & the rate of incidence. As the workers in loading place suffered more from dermatitis. A direct relationship between the duration of work and the rate of incidence was found.
Conclusion: High prevalence of cement dermatitis can be ascribed to lack of direct hygien observations and saltey in the factories. Besides the high potential of inducing allergy in cement should not be reglected .80 more accurate observations, using preventive messures and also performing more detailed researches on methods to decrease the allergic pottential of cement can reduce the rate of Cement Dermatitis.