Investigation on 597 workers' oral buccal mucosal lesions

Objective To investigate the characteristics, distribution and influencing factors of workers' oral and buccal mucosal lesions, and to find out the preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Methods According to National Technical Specification for Occupational Health Monitoring (GBZ 188-2014), the workers' occupational health examination was carried out in 108 enterprises in 2018. The stomatology examination included recording past history and lifestyle habits and checking the oral bilateral buccal mucosa. Totally, 5 559 first-line workers exposed to various occupational hazards and 873 administrative, logistics and management personnel were examined.

Result The occupational monitoring in these enterprises showed that the workers exposed to dust, or chemicals, or ionizing radiation, or ultraviolet radiation or noise. The exposure levels of these hazards were lower than national exposure limits, except for noise with compliance of 27.3% - 92.3% at different workplaces. Totally 597 workers(7.23%)were found with buccal mucosa lesions. The lesions of buccal mucosa were mainly buccal edema, sebaceous cyst and edema. It showed that the workers in exposed group had higher prevalence(9.70%) than workers without occupational exposure(6.64%)(P < 0.01)and male higher than female(P < 0.01).Among exposed workers, the workers exposed to noise or acid-base chemicals had higher prevalence.

Conclusion Various occupational and environmental factors could affect buccal mucosa health. We should improve personal protection, change unhealthy habits to control the occurrence and development of diseases..