A Survey on Chemical Hazards and Liver Function in Rubber Industry Workers in Iran
ABSTRACT
Rubber industries workers are at risk of hepatic dysfunction from exposure to rubber dust and a mixture of different hydrocarbons. This study aimed to evaluate the relation between chemical hazards in workplace and serum hepatic transaminases in rubber industry workers in Iran. This historical cohort study was conducted in a rubber-manufacturing industry in Mashhad. It con-sisted of 91 workers with chemical substances exposure and 85 workers not exposed to chemicals. Hepatic transaminases including alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were compared between these two groups. Required data were collected through questionnaire, liver enzymes evaluation, and environmental monitoring of chemical substances. The data were analyzed with SPSS 11.5. A total of 176 workers enrolled in this study included 113 (64.2%) male and 73 (35.8%) female. The mean of age and employment duration in exposed group were 29.22 ± 3.99 and 5.41 ± 2.77 and in non-exposed group were 30.33 ± 4.11 and 5.29 ± 2.77 respectively. The mean of ALT in exposed and non-exposed groups was 31.3 ± 8.04 and 23.8 ± 10.42 (p = 0.01) and the mean of AST was 29.6 ± 9.7 and 27.3 ± 8.2 (p = 0.1) respectively. A significant difference was shown between mean of ALT at the date of employment and at the time of the study in exposed group. According to our findings evaluation of serum transaminases is a useful screening method which might be beneficial in early detection of hepatocellular injuries in rubber industry workers.
Cite this paper
Rafeemanesh, E. , Bazzaz, M. , Sadrossadat, F. and Ahmadi, F. (2015) A Survey on Chemical Hazards and Liver Function in Rubber Industry Workers in Iran. International Journal of Clinical Medicine, 6, 347-353. doi: 10.4236/ijcm.2015.65045.
Rafeemanesh, E. , Bazzaz, M. , Sadrossadat, F. and Ahmadi, F. (2015) A Survey on Chemical Hazards and Liver Function in Rubber Industry Workers in Iran. International Journal of Clinical Medicine, 6, 347-353. doi: 10.4236/ijcm.2015.65045.
References
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v18.i22.2756 [8] Chang, W.J., Joe, K.T., Park, H.Y., Jeong, J.D. and Lee, D.H. (2013) The Relationship of Liver Function Tests to Mixed Exposure to Lead and Organic Solvents. Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 25, 5.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2052-4374-25-5 [9] Brautbar, N. and Williams, J. (2002) Industrial Solvents and Liver Toxicity: Risk Assessment, Risk Factors and Mechanisms. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 205, 479-491.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1078/1438-4639-00175 [10] Brodkin, C.A., Moon, J.D., Camp, J., Echeverria, D., Redich, C.A., Willson, R.A. and Checkoway, H. (2001) Serum Hepatic Biochemical Activity in Two Populations of Workers Exposed to Styrene. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 58, 95-102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/oem.58.2.95 [11] National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (2013) NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2003-154/method-0500.html [12] National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (2013) NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2003-154/method-2000.html [13] Cohen, B. (2007) Industrial Hygiene Measurement and Control. In: Rom, W.N., Ed., Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, 1768. [14] Katz, B. (1962) Toxicochemical Affection of the Liver with Styrene under Operating Conditions. Gigiena Truda, 10, 21-23. [15] Rees, D., Soderlund, N., Cronje, R., Song, E., Kielkowski, D. and Myers J. (1993) Solvent Exposure, Alcohol Consumption and Liver Injury in Workers Manufacturing Paint. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 19, 236-244.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.1478 [16] Lundberg, I., Nise, G., Hedenborg, G., Hogberg, M. and Vesterberg, O. (1994) Liver Function Tests and Urinary Albumin in House Painters with Previous Heavy Exposure to Organic Solvents. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 51, 347-353.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/oem.51.5.347 [17] Nijem, K., Kristensen, P., Thorud, S., Al-Khatib, A., Takrori, F. and Bjertness, E. (2001) Solvent Exposures at Shoe Factories and Workshops in Hebron City. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 7, 182-188.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/oeh.2001.7.3.182 [18] Kaukianen, A., Vehmas, T., Rantala, K., Nurminen, M., Martikainen, R. and Taskinen, H. (2004) Results of Common Laboratory Tests in Solvent-Exposed Workers. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 77, 39-46.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00420-003-0476-z [19] Perez, C., Bosia, J., Cantore, M., Chiera, A., Cocozzella, D. and Adrover, R. (2006) Liver Damage in Workers Exposed to Hydrocarbons. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 29, 334-337. [20] Carvalho, F.M., Silvany Neto, A.M., Mendes, J.L., Cotrim, H.P., Nascimento, A.L., Lima Jr., A.S., et al. (2006) [Liver Enzyme Abnormalities among Oil Refinery Workers]. Revista de SaúdePública, 40, 92-98.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102006000100015 [21] Dossing, M. and Ranek, L. (1984) Isolated Liver Damage in Chemical Workers. British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 41, 142-144.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/oem.41.1.142 [22] Liu, J., Drane, W., Liu, X. and Wu, T. (2009) Examination of the Relationships between Environmental Exposures to Volatile Organic Compounds and Biochemical Liver Tests: Application of Canonical Correlation Analysis. Environmental Research, 109, 193-199.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2008.11.002 [23] Fernández-D’Pool, J. and Orono-Osorio, A. (2001) Liver Function of Workers Occupationally Exposed to Mixed Organic Solvents in a Petrochemical Industry. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 42, 87-106. [24] Kurppa, K. and Husman, K. (1982) Car Painters’ Exposure to a Mixture of Organic Solvents. Serum Activities of Liver Enzymes. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 8, 137-140.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.2491 [25] Goji, J., Tsuchiya, G., Fujita, D. and Koisomi, N. (2003) Effect of Painting Work on Alcoholic Liver Dysfunction. Sangyo Eiseigaku Zasshi, 45, 215-221.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1539/sangyoeisei.45.215 [26] Aminian, O., Sharifian, A., Jalalie, M., Razi, M. and Ehsani Ardekani, M.J. (2007) Alterations of Hepatic Enzymes in Industrial Painters Exposed to Organic Solvents in Tehran. Journal of the Faculty of Medicine, 31, 279-283. (In Persian) [27] Attarchi, M.S., AmiriRigi, A., Labbafinejad, Y. and Mohammadi, S. (2009) Effects of Occupational Exposure with Mixture of Aromatic Organic Solvents on Liver Enzymes in Workers of an Automobile Plant. Armaghane-Danesh Bimonthly Journal of Yasouj University of Medical Sciences, 14, 92-101. (In Persian) [28] Ruhl, C.E. and Everhart, J.E. (2003) Determinants of the Association of Overweight with Elevated Serum Alanine Aminotransferase Activity in the United States. Gastroenterology, 124, 71-79.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/gast.2003.50004 [29] Sull, J.W., Yun, J.E., Lee, S.Y., Ohrr, H., Jee, S.H., Guallar, E. and Samet, J.M. (2009) Body Mass Index and Serum Aminotransferase Levels in Korean Men and Women. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 43, 869-875.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MCG.0b013e3181945956 [30] Lee, D.H., Ha, M.H. and Christiani, D.C. (2001) Body Weight, Alcohol Consumption and Liver Enzyme Activity—A 4-Year Follow-Up Study. International Journal of Epidemiology, 30, 766-770.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ije/30.4.766 [31] Adams, L.A., Knuiman, M.W., Divitini, M.L. and Olynyk, J.K. (2008) Body Mass Index Is a Stronger Predictor of Alanine Aminotransaminase Levels than Alcohol Consumption. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 23, 1089-1093.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1746.2008.05451.x [32] Longo, D., Fauci, A., Kasper, D., Hauser, S., Jameson, L. and Loscalzo, J. (2012) Harrison’s Principal of Internal Medicine. McGraw-Hill, New York.