Trends in occupational exposure to oxygenated, petroleum-based, and chlorinated solvents in France between 1999 and 2013. Results of the Matgéné program

Changes in occupational exposure to oxygenated, petroleum-based, and chlorinated solvents between 1999 and 2013 in France are presented by gender and industry sector. Exposures are estimated using the job-exposure matrices from the Matgéné program. Population data from the 1999, 2007, and 2013 are cross-referenced with the matrices to estimate exposure prevalence over the three years. The most frequently used solvents in the workplace in 2013 were oxygenated solvents (11.4% of workers), followed by petroleum solvents (5.3%) and chlorinated solvents (0.2%). Women were more exposed to oxygenated solvents (15.4% of women vs. 7.7% of men), while men were more frequently exposed to petroleum solvents (9.1% vs. 1.1%) and chlorinated solvents (0.3% vs. 0.1%). Occupational exposure decreased for each of the solvent families over the study period, as did exposure to at least one solvent from each family. This study is the first to present trends in occupational exposure to three major families of solvents over a 14-year period for all workers in France, regardless of their status or occupation. The overall decline observed for all solvents is positive given that some of these solvents are carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic. However, this decline should be analyzed by sector and gender in order to best guide and target the preventive measures to be implemented for the occupational groups that remained most exposed in 2013.

Author(s): Pilorget Corinne, Lagarrigue Robin, Houot Marie

Publishing year: 2018

Pages: 234-240

Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, 2018, n° 12-13, p. 234-240

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