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Exposure to organic solvents and hepatotoxicity
Cristiano Brauner1, Dvora Joveleviths2,3, Mário R Álvares-da-Silva2,3
1Postgraduate Program - Gastroenterology and Hepatology Sciences, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Summary
Long-term occupational exposure to organic solvents may cause liver damage. Workers exposed to solvents showed elevated liver enzymes and oxidative stress markers compared to unexposed individuals.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Hepatology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Chemicals, including organic solvents, are prevalent in many industrial settings.
- Long-term exposure to certain chemicals can lead to adverse health effects, particularly affecting the liver.
- Understanding the specific impact of organic solvent exposure on liver function is crucial for occupational health surveillance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of occupational exposure to organic solvents on liver health.
- To assess liver function and oxidative stress markers in workers with prolonged solvent exposure.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 70 workers, with 30 exposed to organic solvents (≥5 years) and 40 unexposed controls.
- Laboratory tests included alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and oxidative stress markers: thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in plasma, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in erythrocytes.
- Exclusion criteria ensured a homogenous sample, free from confounding factors like viral hepatitis, comorbidities, alcohol/drug use, or hepatotoxic medications.
Main Results:
- Elevated ALT levels were significantly more frequent in the exposed group (33%) compared to controls (10.5%) (p < 0.05).
- Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were significantly higher in exposed workers (p < 0.01).
- Antioxidant enzyme levels, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST), were significantly elevated in the exposed group.
Conclusions:
- Occupational exposure to organic solvents is associated with increased liver enzyme levels and oxidative stress.
- Findings suggest a potential for hepatotoxicity resulting from long-term exposure to organic solvents in the workplace.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms and long-term consequences of solvent-induced liver injury.
Keywords:
Solventsaromatic hydrocarbonschemical exposurehepatotoxicitytoxicant-associated steatohepatitis (TASH)More Related Videos
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