Korean J Occup Environ Med.  2001 Mar;13(1):64-74.

The Association of Exposure to Organic Solvents with Liver Function

• Ann CY
• Lee KJ
• Park JB
• Jang JY
• Kim MJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study was conducted to evaluate the association of cumulative exposure to organic solvent with liver function.
METHODS
We conducted a cross sectional study. 461 male workers who perform painting job at a shipyard and use organic solvents routinely and 125 workers of the same shipyard who never have been exposed to organic solvents were studied. All subjects who were confirmed not having HBsAg surveyed their age, BMI(body mass index), alcohol drinking and smoking history, and examined liver function test (SGOT, SGPT, gamma-GTP, Total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin). The amount of cumulative exposure (CE) to mixed organic solvents were measured by biological monitoring method using their metabolites in urine.
RESULTS
The CE was observed as a significant variable with logistic regression analysis on abnormality of SGOT(>35IU/L), SGPT(>40IU/L) and gamma-GTP(>63IU/L), their odds ratio were 1.10 (95 %CI, 1.02-1.20), 1.10 (95 %CI, 1.01-1.19), and 1.10 (95 %CI, 1.01-1.19) each.
CONCLUSIONS
Therefore we suggest that the cumulative exposure to mixed organic solvents might be a significant variable on abnormal liver function indices (SGOT, SGPT,gamma-GTP) in male shipyard workers

Keyword

Organic solvent; Liver function test; Cumulative exposure (CE)

MeSH Terms

Alanine Transaminase
Alcohol Drinking
Bilirubin
Environmental Monitoring
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
Humans
Liver Function Tests
Liver*
Logistic Models
Male
Odds Ratio
Paint
Paintings
Smoke
Smoking
Solvents*
Alanine Transaminase
Bilirubin
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
Smoke
Solvents