Early detection and signs of hepatoangiosarcoma among vinyl chloride workers

Health examinations of 108 workers exposed to vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) at a Japanese chemical plant were carried out in 1979. The polymerization of vinyl chloride was started at the plant in 1949. In this study, the highest concentration of VCM in autoclaves was determined to be 250 ppm in 1961. However, the workers at the plant had been exposed to higher concentrations of VCM several times before 1960. More recent VCM exposure was considered negligible. Examinations assessed data on age, height, weight, obesity index, sake consumption, VCM exposure concentration, latent period, cumulative exposure, ICG (indocyano green test), serum bilirubin, GOT (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase), GPT (glutamic pyruvic transaminase), A1-P (alkaline phosphatase), GGT(gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase), ZTT (zinc turbidity test), LDH (lactate dehydrogenase), cholesterol, TTT (thymol turbidity test), A/G (albumin globulin ratio), and thrombocytes. Variation in VCM exposure did not affect tests of pigment excretion from the liver, such as ICG; thrombocytes; and enzyme activity (such as GPT); nor bilirubin or flocculation reaction in serum.