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Serum liver function profiles in coking workers

M T Wu1, I F Mao, D Wypij

  • 1Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.

American Journal of Industrial Medicine
|November 5, 1997
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Coking workers exposed to high levels of coke oven emissions (COE) showed elevated liver enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). This suggests heavy inhalation exposure to COE may cause adverse hepatic effects in these workers.

Area of Science:

  • Occupational Health
  • Hepatology
  • Environmental Toxicology

Background:

  • Coking workers face regular exposure to coke oven emissions (COE), a complex mixture primarily containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds.
  • Previous research indicated higher hepatic aminotransferase activity in coking workers with heavy COE exposure.
  • This study investigates the specific relationship between COE exposure levels and various liver function profiles in coking industry personnel.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the association between occupational exposure to coke oven emissions (COE) and liver function test results in coking workers.
  • To identify specific liver function parameters affected by different levels of COE exposure.
  • To determine if heavy COE exposure is linked to abnormal liver enzyme levels.

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Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 88 coking workers from an older plant were monitored for benzene soluble fraction (BSF) as a surrogate for COE over three days.
  • Exposure levels were categorized into high, medium, and low groups based on work location and duration.
  • Serum liver function profiles (AST, ALT, GGT, ALP, BIL), hepatitis B surface antigens, and anti-hepatitis C antibodies were analyzed.
  • Multivariate models were used to adjust for potential confounding factors.

Main Results:

  • While overall coking workers did not significantly differ from referents, workers in the high exposure group (topside) exhibited significantly higher mean aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels compared to the low exposure group.
  • The high exposure group showed a higher prevalence of abnormal hepatocellular patterns (elevated AST or ALT).
  • No significant associations were found between COE exposure and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), or total bilirubin (BIL) levels.

Conclusions:

  • Heavy inhalation exposure to coke oven emissions (COE) is associated with increased AST and ALT levels in topside coking workers.
  • The observed adverse hepatic effects likely result from a complex mixture of hazards present in COE, rather than a single chemical.
  • Occupational health surveillance should consider monitoring liver function in workers with high potential for COE exposure.