Immunobiochemical profiles of workers differing in the degree of occupational exposure to vinyl chloride

The immunobiochemical studies were conducted in a group of 98 production workers engaged in polyvinyl chloride manufacture from ethylene (group A workers) and in a group of 59 vinyl chloride workers from a chemical plant employing classic production technology from acetylene (group B workers). Both groups of workers were matched by age (group A workers: 37.7 +/- 8.66 years; group B workers: 34.9 +/- 11.2 years) and average exposure length (group A workers: 8.6 +/- 3.0 years; group B workers: 10.7 +/- 8.4 years). All workers were examined for the serum concentrations of immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM and acute reactants lysozyme (LYS), transferrin (TRF), ceruloplasmin (CPL), alpha-l-antitrypsin (AlAT), alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) and orosomucoid (ORO). The statistical analysis included calculations of means, standard deviations and 95% confidence intervals. Differences in means were evaluated by t-test, differences in the distribution pattern of values by F-test. Abnormality of values was assessed by comparisons to normal values valid in Czechoslovakia. Group A worked in conditions meeting the MAC 10 mg VC.m-3 comparing with group B workers had elevated levels of IgG (P less than 0.005), IgA and IgM (P less than 0.001 both). Group B workers differed from group A workers by exhibiting significantly elevated levels of AlAT, and CPL. (P less than 0.001). The differences in the frequency of abnormal values between group A and group B worked in substantially less favourable hygienic conditions were significant for immunoglobulins elevated in group A and for ORO (P less than 0.01) and CPL (P less than 0.001) elevated in group B. The possible relationship of these immunobiochemical findings with the degree of vinyl chloride exposure are critically analyzed.