TY - JOUR

T1 - Skin disease among farmers using wastewater in rice cultivation in Nam Dinh, Vietnam

AU - Do, Thuy Trang

AU - van der Hoek, Wim

AU - Nguyen, Dang Tuan

AU - Phung, Dac Cam

AU - Vu, Huu Viet

AU - Do, Duc Luu

AU - Konradsen, Flemming

AU - Dalsgaard, Anders

N1 - Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Agricultural Workers' Diseases; Cohort Studies; Dermatitis, Occupational; Dermatomycoses; Eczema; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Exposure; Oryza sativa; Risk Factors; Sewage; Vietnam

PY - 2007

Y1 - 2007

N2 - OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of skin disease among farmers occupationally exposed to wastewater. METHODS: One-year follow-up study with monthly assessments of wastewater exposure and skin disease in Nam Dinh, northern Vietnam, in two adjacent communes with contrasting levels of wastewater use. In each commune, 200 households were randomly selected. RESULTS: Of the 1103 individuals aged > or =15 years, 381 reported a skin problem at baseline or at any of the monthly visits, primarily dermatitis (eczema) and superficial fungal infections. Among the 874 subjects who were free from skin disease at baseline and who could be followed up > or =11 months, 183 developed a new skin disease (cumulative incidence 21%). Exposure to wastewater was a major risk factor for skin disease with a relative risk (RR) of 1.89 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39-2.57] in multivariable analysis. Other risk factors for skin disease were involvement in agriculture in general (RR = 2.59, 95% CI 1.11-6.02), flower cultivation (RR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.01-1.83), vegetable farming (RR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.04-2.08), and a history of eczema (RR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.05-2.05). CONCLUSION: Exposure to wastewater is a major risk factor for skin disease. In future studies, an attempt should be made to link specific chemical or biological agents in the wastewater to specific skin diseases.

AB - OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of skin disease among farmers occupationally exposed to wastewater. METHODS: One-year follow-up study with monthly assessments of wastewater exposure and skin disease in Nam Dinh, northern Vietnam, in two adjacent communes with contrasting levels of wastewater use. In each commune, 200 households were randomly selected. RESULTS: Of the 1103 individuals aged > or =15 years, 381 reported a skin problem at baseline or at any of the monthly visits, primarily dermatitis (eczema) and superficial fungal infections. Among the 874 subjects who were free from skin disease at baseline and who could be followed up > or =11 months, 183 developed a new skin disease (cumulative incidence 21%). Exposure to wastewater was a major risk factor for skin disease with a relative risk (RR) of 1.89 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39-2.57] in multivariable analysis. Other risk factors for skin disease were involvement in agriculture in general (RR = 2.59, 95% CI 1.11-6.02), flower cultivation (RR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.01-1.83), vegetable farming (RR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.04-2.08), and a history of eczema (RR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.05-2.05). CONCLUSION: Exposure to wastewater is a major risk factor for skin disease. In future studies, an attempt should be made to link specific chemical or biological agents in the wastewater to specific skin diseases.

U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2007.01941.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2007.01941.x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 18005315

VL - 12 Suppl 2

SP - 51

EP - 58

JO - Tropical Medicine & International Health

JF - Tropical Medicine & International Health

SN - 1360-2276

ER -