title: Endocrine profiles of male workers with exposure to trichloroethylene.
abstract: The objective of this study was to examine the endocrine profiles of a group of male workers chronically exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE) in an electronics factory. A total of 124 workers participated in a preliminary study, for which 85 satisfied the selection criteria and were recruited to take part in a more detailed study. Each of the 85 workers had urine collected and analyzed for trichloroacetic acids (TCA) on the day blood was taken for analysis of serum testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), and sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG). Environmental TCE exposures were conducted for 12 workers. The geometric mean concentration of environmental TCE was 29.6 ppm (range 9-131) and the mean urine TCA was 22.4 mg/g creatinine (range 0.8-136.4). The results showed that years of exposure to TCE were significantly correlated with DHEAS and negatively correlated with SHBG and T levels. Serum FSH, T, and SHBG levels showed a gradual decline with increasing years of exposure to TCE. This dose-response decrease indicated that there was a disruption of peripheral endocrine function. This disruption could be a result of TCE-induced liver malfunction. The most dramatic change was that the increase in DHEAS concentration was associated with years of exposure to TCE, rising from 255 to 717.8 ng/ml for < 3 to > or = 7 years exposure, respectively. This evidence suggests that chronic exposure to TCE may also affect adrenal function. These findings, however, must be confirmed by further investigations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, National University of Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Chia
authors.forename: V H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Ong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004581:Electronics; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis*; D012846:Singapore; D014241:Trichloroethylene / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D014241:Trichloroethylene; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone