Occupational Medicine & Health Affairs
Open Access

Abstract

Objective: Evaluation of the clinical impact of chronic exposure to perchloréthyléne 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 perchloréthyléne dry cleaners employees, and allowed us to identify the symptoms observed in the study population according to the exhibition.

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