Workers employed for long periods in leather tanning industries most commonly tend to suffer from which type of occupational disease?

Introduction / Context:
Leather tanning is an industrial process that uses various chemicals to treat animal hides and convert them into finished leather. Many of these chemicals, such as chromium compounds and dyes, can be harsh on human skin. Occupational health questions in general science often ask about typical diseases associated with specific industries. This question focuses on the health problems faced by workers in leather tanning units due to continuous exposure to chemicals and wet working conditions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are considering long term workers in leather tanning industries.
• They handle hides, tanning solutions and various chemical agents.
• We must identify the most common type of disease they suffer from among the options.

Concept / Approach:
Occupational diseases are closely linked to the nature of the work and exposure. In leather tanning, workers frequently immerse hands and sometimes other body parts in baths containing chemicals. Prolonged skin contact with chromium salts and other agents leads to dermatitis, rashes, ulcers and other skin conditions. While respiratory or systemic effects are possible, the most directly affected organ system is the skin. Therefore, skin diseases are recognised as a frequent occupational hazard for leather tanning workers in many health reports and exam oriented textbooks.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the industry mentioned is leather tanning, which involves chemical treatment of hides. Step 2: Recall that workers in this industry handle chemicals and wet materials with their bare hands or minimal protection. Step 3: Understand that continuous exposure of skin to irritating or sensitising chemicals leads to dermatitis and other skin problems. Step 4: Check the options and note which disease category matches frequent skin contact with chemicals. Step 5: Asthma and heart disease are more associated with dust, fumes and lifestyle rather than direct skin contact. Step 6: Blood diseases are not typically highlighted as the main occupational risk in leather tanning. Step 7: Therefore, skin diseases is the most appropriate and widely accepted answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Many occupational health case studies mention contact dermatitis, eczema and skin ulcers in leather industry workers due to chromium and other chemical exposure. General science and social science textbooks in school also link leather tanning with skin problems when discussing occupational hazards. These references support skin diseases as the primary health issue associated with this industry.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Asthma: While some industries with dust and fibres are strongly linked to asthma, leather tanning is more associated with liquid chemical contact than airborne dust, so asthma is not the main issue here.
Heart diseases: These are influenced by lifestyle factors and long term cardiovascular risk, but they are not specifically characteristic of leather tanning as an occupation.
Blood diseases: No standard general science text highlights blood diseases as the key occupational hazard for leather tanning workers, making this option less appropriate than skin diseases.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes overthink occupational health questions and choose serious sounding systemic diseases rather than the most direct and common effect. It is helpful to visualise the work environment. In leather tanning, you can imagine workers with hands constantly in chemical baths, which immediately suggests skin irritation and lesions. Using simple, logical visualisation often leads to the correct answer in such questions.

Final Answer:
Workers in leather tanning industries most commonly suffer from skin diseases due to prolonged contact with harsh chemicals.