Phytophotodermatitis Among Grocery Workers – Ohio

Details

• Journal Article:
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  A NIOSH study of an Ohio supermarket (SIC-5411) where several employees were reported to have dermatitis is reviewed. A total of 95 percent of the supermarket employees was interviewed and examined. Of these, 27 percent had papular, well circumscribed rashes confined to the upper extremities, with residual blistering or hyperpigmentation. The time of rash onset ranged from April through August. Cases occurred only among cashiers, baggers, and produce clerks. Those with rashes were significantly more likely to have used a tanning salon during the outbreak period. A diagnosis of phytophotodermatitis was made. NIOSH recommended that employees who handled produce wash exposed hands, wrists, and forearms regularly and avoid tanning salons and excessive exposure to sunlight. Other skin disorders among supermarket employees are discussed. Following contact with linear furan coumarins, exposure to long wave ultraviolet light may provoke phytophotodermatitis. The rash is associated with exposure to a wide variety of fruits, flowers, and vegetables. The phytophotodermatitis reaction is typically confined to the initial site of contact and characterized by redness and blistering in the absence of itching and by residual hyperpigmentation. Outbreaks of skin rashes at other supermarkets are reviewed. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Food Industry Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety Skin Workplace
• Keywords:
  Hazards Industrial Hygiene NIOSH Author Occupational Hazards Occupations Physiological Measurements Retail Workers Workers Workplace Studies
• Series:
  Weekly Report: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• ISSN:
  0149-2195 (print) ; 1545-861X (digital)
• Publisher:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (U.S.)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  4 pdf pages
• Volume:
  34
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00152751
• Citation:
  MMWR 1985 Jan; 34(1):11-13
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1985
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  5411 - Grocery stores - (SIC)
• Collection(s):
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:59bc85b2185c4279364337f9443608d2b1131ed12939247efcbe2ba91ad13c69172d6c6d8da8fe7072827d1e989bf8496928c783890942183525e8894bcb31f8
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/183255/cdc_183255_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 349.96 KB ]