Association of p-phenylenediamine exposure with alterations of pulmonary function, pruritus and health-related quality of life in hair dye manufacturer workers: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background p -Phenylenediamine (PPD) is a common component of hair dye, indicating the clinical characteristics of skin contact allergy and asthma with impaired pulmonary function. Howerver the adverse effects of PPD occupational exposure was rarely mentioned. The purpose of this study was to explore the PPD-induced pulmonary function, pruritus and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of industrial workers of hair dye. Methods We recruited 124 workers from a hair dye manufacturer exposed to PPD. Individual PPD exposure and pulmonary function of workers were measured. The quality of life and subjective pruritus of workers was also assessed by SF-36 and VAS of pruritus, respectively. Results In the high PPD-exposed group, FVC% (percentage of forced vital capacity) was higher, while FEV1/FVC% (ratio percentage of forced expiratory volume) was lower than that in the low PPD-exposed group ( P <0.05). In terms of the HRQOL, the scores of mental health and vitality of the high PPD-exposed group were the lowest of all groups ( P <0.05), while the score of VAS was significantly higher than that of other two groups ( P <0.001). PPD levels were negatively correlated with vitality and mental health ( P <0.01). Higher PPD exposure level was correlated with a significantly higher VAS level (OR 9.394; 95%CI: 1.710, 51.622; P =0.010). The structural equation model provided a good fit to the data (χ2/df =1.607, GFI =0.901, AGFI =0.934, RMSEA =0.007, IFI =0.977, CFI =0.960, PGFI =0.615). And showed that PPD exposed level have positive effects on VAS level (β = 0.213, P <0.001). Then PPD exposed level partly via lack total score of SF-36 (β = -0.465, P =0.002); on negative effects on VAR level (β = -0.110, P <0.001). Conclusion Occupational PPD exposure might be associated with pulmonary function impairment, poor HRQOL, and subjective pruritus of workers.