Occupational Medicine & Health Affairs
Open Access

Abstract

Objective: Evaluation of the clinical impact of chronic exposure to perchlor?thyl?ne in a population of salaries laundry in western Algeria. Means and methods: This is a cross-type exposed unexposed study. Data collection made by a questionnaire (that of Hogstedt). Were performed psychometric tests. The evaluation of occupational exposure by air sampling using colorimetric detector tubes for spot metering (Dragger pumps). Results: Sixty employees and 120 controls were included. 50% of employees often had fatigue at the end of work and then 50% sometimes complain of fatigue at the beginning and at the workplace and irritability. There is a significant difference between exposed and unexposed population on the presence of clinical signs except for the presence of three signs: nightmares, tingling in arms and digestive disorders, and for all the psychometric tests. Discussion: Repeating peaks perchlorethylene causes a greater exposure to the recommended values. The clinic is indicated in monitoring exposure but must be associated with bio metrology for chronic exposures. Conclusion: This study confirms the existence of an occupational exposure to perchlor?thyl?ne dry cleaners employees, and allowed us to identify the symptoms observed in the study population according to the exhibition.

Biography