Table 2.
Variables related to printing workers' serum chromium levels and urinary chromium levels.
| Characteristics | Number of exposed printing workers (n = 75) |
Mean ± SD of serum chromium levels (μg/L) | p value | Mean ± SD of urinary chromium levels (μg/g creatinine) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General characteristics | |||||
| Sex | |||||
| Male | 49 (65.3) | 1.47 | 0.001∗ | 3.36 ± 1.90 | 0.039∗ |
| Female | 26 (34.7) | 0.59 ± 0.19 | 1.91 ± 0.70 | ||
| Age (years) | |||||
| 20–30 | 40 (53.3) | 0.67 ± 0.52 | 0.067 | 1.71 ± 0.05 | 0.425 |
| >30–40 | 24 (32.0) | 1.47 ± 1.29 | 2.90 ± 1.80 | ||
| >40–50 | 11 (14.7) | 1.62 ± 1.21 | 1.92 ± 1.62 | ||
| Education level | |||||
| Secondary school | 15 (20.0) | 1.29 ± 1.13 | 0.614 | 0.31 ± 0.30 | 0.214 |
| Vocational school | 29 (38.7) | 0.96 ± 1.17 | 0.36 ± 0.21 | ||
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31 (41.3) | 1.19 ± 1.20 | 0.41 ± 0.30 | ||
| Income (baht) | |||||
| ≤9000 | 48 (64.0) | 1.16 ± 1.02 | 0.780 | 2.83 ± 1.19 | 0.926 |
| >9000 | 27 (36.0) | 1.28 ± 1.01 | 2.90 ± 1.97 | ||
| Smoking cigarettes | |||||
| Yes | 35 (46.7) | 1.37 ± 1.31 | 0.123 | 3.62 ± 2.17 | 0.034∗ |
| No | 40 (53.3) | 0.92 ± 1.14 | 2.19 ± 1.55 | ||
| Consuming alcohol | |||||
| Yes | 43 (57.3) | 1.07 ± 1.23 | 0.635 | 3.05 ± 2.09 | 0.517 |
| No | 32 (42.7) | 1.21 ± 1.20 | 2.61 ± 2.11 | ||
|
| |||||
| Occupational lifestyles | |||||
| Duration of work (years) | |||||
| >5 | 21 (28.0) | 0.67 ± 0.18 | 0.012∗ | 0.57 ± 0.06 | <0.001∗ |
| ≤5 | 54 (72.0) | 1.31 ± 1.20 | 3.75 ± 0.99 | ||
| Hours worked per day | |||||
| >8 | 48 (64.0) | 0.56 ± 0.27 | <0.001∗ | 1.57 ± 0.21 | <0.001∗ |
| ≤8 | 27 (36.0) | 2.14 ± 1.30 | 5.15 ± 2.15 | ||
| Days worked per week | |||||
| >6 | 59 (78.8) | 0.77 ± 0.02 | <0.001∗ | 2.11 ± 0.71 | <0.001∗ |
| ≤6 | 16 (21.3) | 2.85 ± 0.91 | 5.59 ± 1.95 | ||
| Position | |||||
| Press or printing process | 58 (77.3) | 1.80 ± 1.36 | <0.001∗ | 4.51 ± 1.30 | <0.001∗ |
| Other positions (prepress and postpress process) | 17 (22.7) | 0.26 ± 1.60 | 2.41 ± 0.02 | ||
|
| |||||
| Personal protective equipment (PPE) | |||||
| Mask | |||||
| Yes | 21 (28.0) | 2.80 ± 0.842 | <0.001∗ | 5.37 ± 2.33 | <0.001∗ |
| No | 54 (72.0) | 0.48 ± 0.582 | 1.85 ± 2.50 | ||
| Gloves | |||||
| Yes | 45 (60.0) | 1.65 ± 1.336 | <0.001∗ | 3.87 ± 2.9 | <0.001∗ |
| No | 30 (40.0) | 0.35 ± 0.393 | 1.34 ± 1.12 | ||
|
| |||||
| Personal hygiene of workers | |||||
| Eating snacks or drinking water at work | |||||
| Always | 57 (76.0) | 1.41 ± 1.303 | <0.001∗ | 3.47 ± 1.95 | 0.001∗ |
| Sometimes | 18 (24.0) | 0.27 ± 0.178 | 1.92 ± 1.82 | ||
| Washing hands before lunch | |||||
| Always | 35 (46.7) | 1.60 ± 1.303 | 0.002∗ | 4.29 ± 3.91 | <0.001∗ |
| Sometimes | 40 (53.3) | 0.72 ± 1.029 | 1.60 ± 1.17 | ||
| Washing hands after work | |||||
| Always | 15 (20.0) | 2.33 ± 1.308 | 0.002∗ | 5.41 ± 2.43 | 0.004∗ |
| Sometimes | 60 (80.0) | 0.83 ± 1.028 | 2.21 ± 1.41 | ||
∗Significant at p < 0.05.