What harm does asphalt do to the human body

Generally speaking, asphalt is often used in construction. Do you know that if you come into contact with asphalt frequently, it can easily cause cancer? The World Health Organization announced in 2017 that asphalt is on the list of Class 2A carcinogens. In fact, asphalt is not only carcinogenic, but also causes great damage to our skin. Let’s take a look at it below.

1. Solar dermatitis

The disease often occurs after contact with asphalt dust or fumes and exposure to sunlight. The disease can occur within minutes to 1-2 days (mostly several hours) after sun exposure. The lesions are limited to exposed areas such as the face and back of the neck, especially the eyelids and cheekbones. The skin lesions are of the sunburn type and manifest as clearly demarcated bright red spots, often accompanied by edema. In severe cases, blisters, bullae, and even erosions and exudates may occur. The skin lesions reach a peak within 1-2 days and generally disappear rapidly within 3-5 days after stopping contact. There are mild bran-like scales locally, and temporary mild pigmentation is often secondary. There is burning pain and mild itching in some cases.

2. Melanosis

The disease is often symmetrically distributed on the exposed parts of the face and neck, and also affects the forearms. It is particularly prone to occur around the eyes, temples, forehead hairline and inner corners, cheeks beside the nose and around the mouth. The lesions are mostly flaky and dark in color, ranging from brown to dark brown to brown-black, sometimes with a slight brown-red or lavender color. Their sizes and shapes vary, and most of them have blurred edges. The pigmentation on the forearm is often centered on the pores, and the affected pores are mildly keratinized; sometimes light brown with gray-purple pigmentation spots alternate with normal skin, blending into a cloud-like appearance. When the disease occurs, there is often a history of recurrent attacks of asphalt phototoxic dermatitis, often accompanied by asphalt acne. The disease is a chronic process. Sun exposure makes the condition worse. Discontinuation of contact can lead to improvement and even recovery.

3. Acne

The main manifestations of occupational acne caused by asphalt are blackheads, broken hairs and folliculitis. The disease often occurs in areas of direct contact, such as the face, back of fingers, back of hands and forearms, and often affects areas of clothing contaminated by asphalt, such as the extensor surface of the thigh, and occasionally on the trunk. Blackheads are black spots in enlarged pores, often with small whitish nodules underneath. Blackheads caused by asphalt are generally larger and more scattered than those caused by chlorides. They are mainly located on the face, especially between the temples, eyebrows, and both sides of the nose. The eyelids and auricles may also be affected. Folliculitis red papules are follicular papules with yellow-white pustules on the top. In severe cases, they may develop into boils and nodules, which may leave scars. They are often scattered on the face and forearms. The vellus hairs are broken and coarsened, the local pores are often dilated, and there is mild keratinization, which is mainly distributed on the back of the first finger and the radial extensor surface of the forearm. The onset of this disease is not limited by age. There are no subjective symptoms, sometimes accompanied by a feeling of dryness, and pain when folliculitis and furunculosis occur.

4. Wart-like growths

It often occurs on the back of the hands, wrists and face, and may also affect the scrotum and other parts. Similar to flat warts, the surface is skin color - light brown - brown flat papules, the size of a pinhead or mung bean, round or irregular in shape, rough or smooth on the surface, and with clear boundaries. Scattered or densely distributed.

No subjective symptoms or slight itching. Generally, the longer the working years, the higher the incidence rate and the more skin lesions. Wart-like growths may disappear spontaneously. May develop into skin cancer.

5. burn

Most of them are caused by accidents such as splashing, falling and slipping. Hot liquid asphalt causes thermal burns to the skin. The clinical manifestations are similar to those of general thermal burns. The skin surface can be covered with black asphalt, which adheres tightly to the wound and is difficult to remove.