Hepatic effects among workers exposed to ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate

Data about hepatic effects of ethylene glycol ethers had been limited and inconsistent. In this study, we determined whether ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate (EGEEA) was a hepatotoxin in exposed workers. Workers from one silk-screening shop (n=29), using EGEEA as the major cleaning solvent, were recruited as high exposure group. Another group of workers with indirect and low exposure to EGEEA (n=57) were selected as the comparison group. Air concentration of EGEEA was measured by 8-h personal sampling. The mean of air EGEEA concentration in the high exposure group was 7.41-16.5 ppm. The mean of air EGEEA concentration in the low exposure group was 0.07-3.62 ppm. Liver function profiles showed that the AST, ALT, ALP and gamma GT in both male and female EGEEA-exposed workers were not significantly different from those in the comparison group. After adjustment for potential confounders such as gender, body mass index, hepatitis B status, and duration of employment, no difference in hepatic dysfunction were found between exposed and comparison groups. In addition, a two-year follow-up study of these EGEEA-exposed workers, no significant change in hepatic function was noted either. The findings suggest that EGEEA is not a hepatotoxin in this workplace.