Epidemiologic study of liver disease, including viral hepatitis B, in workers of a shipbuilding yard.

The workers at a shipbuilding yard were surveyed for viral hepatitis. An HBs antigen test was given, and the workers responded to a questionnaire. HBs antigen was detected in 4.09% of the workers. HBs antigen was detected in 5.40% of the workers with hepatitis, and in 4.01% of those without hepatitis (no significant difference). HBs antigen was detected in 20.0% of the workers with post-transfusion hepatitis, and in 4.06 % of the workers without hepatitis. The difference in the frequency between the two groups was significant at the 5% level (X(2)-square test). The rate of anamnesis of hepatitis was 9.08%, 5.50% and 6.29% among officers, career technicians and all workers examined, respectively. Hepatitis was under control in 2.12%, 2.82% and 2.66% of the officers, career technicians and all workers, respectively. The difference in the rate of drinking between the workers having anamnesis of hepatitis and those not among workers aged 35~39 was significant at the 5% level (X(2)-square test). The frequency of a family history of hepatitis between the groups among workers aged 40~44 was significant at the 5% level (X(2)-square test). The percent of workers having had a transfusion between the groups was significant at the 1% level (X(2)-square test). As regards drinking water, type of toilet and of farming, there was no significant difference between the groups with hepatitis and that without.