The skin is the body’s largest organ and contact with chemical substances, physical and mechanical exposures at work can lead to work-related skin problems and diseases. Workers handling drilling waste report work-related skin problems frequently, but little is known about their potential skin exposure at work and the real occurrence of work-related skin problems and diseases. Therefore, this project aims to assess skin exposure among workers handling oil-drilling waste, effects of chemical exposure on the skin barrier, subsequent development of skin problems and mechanisms for individual susceptibility to identify targets for primary and secondary prevention.
Project leader: Jose Hernán Alfonso. More information about the project is to be found on the Norwegian project page.