Effects of working environment on the liver in 10 anaesthetists

Drug-metabolising ability, i.e. antipyrine half-life, in anaesthetists was significantly slowed (23%) at the end of summer vacation (2-4 weeks), as compared to prevacation values. Despite changes in either direction, the antipyrine half-lives, including four determinations within a year and a half from the ten anaesthetists, were within normal limits. Liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine amino-transferase, alkaline phosphatase) were also normal. In one anaesthetist the test for anti-HBsAg was positive in 1980, while in the others HBsAg and anti-HBsAg were negative in 1980 and 1981. The inorganic fluoride concentrations of serum and urine (determined four times) were at normal levels. Only in one anaesthetist was there a transient, surprisingly high, serum concentration (7.9 mumol/l), apparently unrelated to work exposure.