Association between solvent exposure and depression among industrial workers

Chemical-related disorders put a great burden on the economy and the health care system. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms based on the Beck depression inventory (BDI) in the workers of an industrial factory and find its association with solvent exposure. In this cross-sectional study, all workers at an industrial factory were enrolled. Demographic and clinical data of the participants were collected by a trained interviewer and entered in the study form. All the participants completed the Beck depression inventory questionnaire. Based on the score of the BDI, the study population was dichotomized around the score 11 and the study variables, particularly exposure to solvents, were compared between the two groups. The association of solvent exposure and BDI score > 11 was then assessed in an adjusted multivariable model. A total of 396 workers were enrolled in this study (mean age = 33.4 ± 7.2 years); 156 (39.4%) workers had BDI ≥ 11. Participants with BDI score ≥ 11 were significantly older than their peers with BDI < 11 (P < 0.001) and had a significantly higher work experience (P < 0.001). In the logistic regression model and after adjustment for confounding variables, there was a significant association between solvent exposure and BDI ≥ 11 (OR = 3.85; 95% CI: 1.13-13.0; P = 0.030). This study showed a high frequency of depressive symptoms among the workers of an industrial factory which had a significant association with solvent exposure.