Labourers face skin issues due to cement

Study found that high concentrations of chemicals in the material can lead to eczema and rashes

Men and women labourers at construction sites who handle cement or are exposed to it are at risk of contracting skin infections owing to the harmful chemicals it contains, a new study conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has found.

The study, conducted by the AIIMS Department of Dermatology and Venereology along with Sweden’s Lund University with key researchers Dr Kaushal Verma and Dr Magnus Bruze, found that high concentrations of chemicals like hexavalent chromium in cement can lead to skin problems like dermatitis, eczema, rashes and burning sensations.

Seven to eight cement samples available in the Indian market were considered for the study. Dr Verma said the study found that the potassium dichromate chemical, a major reason for skin allergies, was present in most of the samples.

“The initial symptoms emerge after working for several months. But the construction workers tend to ignore this as they are not aware of the health hazards. At AIIMS, many patients who have been working for more than two years have come with severely damaged skin,” Dr Verma said.

While wet cement was found to be more harmful than dry cement, Dr Verma further pointed that it is the latter which is usually in greater touch with the skin because it gets amalgamated with the air.

“Once allergies [of any kind] develop on the skin, they remain for a long time and similar is the case with hazards to the skin arising from cement. The body tends to quickly react to any substance that doesn’t suit it,” he added.