Effects on Respiratory Health of Workers who Use Chemical Substances in their Work Environment. A Systemic Review.

Abstract

Introduction: At work, there are many health conditions for workers due to chemical risks to which they are daily exposed, in addition to the lack of commitment of employers to the health of their subordinates, since they handle harmful chemical substances on a daily basis without proper personal protection. Objective: to identify the harmful effects for the respiratory health of workers exposed in their workplace to chemical substances. Methodology: A systematic review of the literature was carried out, research articles from 2014 to 2020 were considered. The keywords were “Workers” OR “Labor” AND “Contaminants” OR “Agents” AND “Recognized disease”, and articles from databases such as Google Academic, SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online), ProQuest, Redalyc, and the Cooperative University of Colombia Digital Library were reviewed. Conclusion: The health of workers, regardless of their work area, is affected in several aspects which may vary. Among them, the respiratory systems, the reproductive system, the nervous system, the integumentary system, and the gastrointestinal system, in a chronic or acute manner. Among the most common causative agents of respiratory diseases are pesticides, lead, and solvents.