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Liver function assessment in workers exposed to vinyl chloride
Marco Maroni1, Anna Clara Fanetti
1Department of Occupational Medicine, Luigi Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi 74, Milan, 20157, Italy. m.maroni@hsacco.it
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
|August 11, 2005
Summary
Liver function tests in vinyl chloride workers did not show occupational damage but revealed non-occupational factors like metabolic issues. These tests are crucial for health promotion and advising on vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) exposure avoidance.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Hepatology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) is a known occupational hazard.
- Assessing liver function in VCM-exposed workers is crucial for monitoring health.
- Previous studies have explored links between VCM exposure and liver abnormalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate liver function in vinyl chloride workers.
- To assess the relationship between liver function tests (LFTs) and occupational VCM exposure.
- To identify non-occupational factors influencing LFTs in this cohort.
Main Methods:
- Medical examinations and LFTs were performed on 757 VCM/PVC production workers.
- Cumulative and maximum VCM exposures were calculated.
- Regression analysis explored associations between abnormal LFTs and determinants including VCM exposure, BMI, alcohol intake, and medical history.
Main Results:
- Most frequent abnormal LFTs included total cholesterol, triglycerides, total bilirubin, GGT, and ALT.
- Abnormal LFTs were not associated with current or past VCM exposure.
- ALT was associated with BMI, AST with alcohol, and GGT with alcohol and triglycerides; no VCM-hepatitis interaction was found.
Conclusions:
- LFTs alone are insufficient to detect VCM-induced liver damage.
- LFTs highlight non-occupational factors like metabolic dysfunction.
- LFTs are valuable for identifying contraindications to VCM exposure and for health promotion.