Occupational Exposure to Chemical Agents in Finland

Abstract

A comprehensive study was conducted to prioritize occupational exposures to chemical and biological agents for preventive actions at a nationwide level. Volumes of use, exposure measurements, number of workers, and incidence of work-related diseases were evaluated and compiled from several official statistics and other sources by 28 industrial hygienists. The survey included over 50,000 hygienic or biological measurements for 33 chemicals or groups of substances. It was estimated that about 1 million employees are currently exposed to chemical agents at their workplaces. In the 1980s, about 1200 dermatoses and 750 other occupational diseases were recorded annually in the active work force of 2.3 million. Several traditional exposures were ranked among the most hazardous (i.e., bioaerosols, organic solvents, grain and flour dusts, asbestos, chromium and chromium compounds, epoxy resins, formaldehyde, nickel and nickel compounds, isocyanates, lead and lead compounds, quartz, and wood dusts). The current use of industrial chemicals exceeds 6 million metric tons corresponding to about 10 percent of all material flows in the country. Although substantial improvements during the 10-year period had taken place in respect to exposure to asbestos, lead, formaldehyde and chlorophenols, the overall incidence of occupational diseases was not decreasing. Tossavainen, A.; Jaakkola, J.: Occupational Exposure to Chemical Agents in Finland. Appl. Occup. Environ. Hyg. 9(1):28–31; 1994.

Key Words:

• airborne contaminants
• chemical exposure
• chemicals
• occupational diseases