Occupational exposure to cis-1,3-dichloropropene: biological effect monitoring of kidney and liver function.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the possible effects of occupational exposure to the nematocide cis-1,3-dichloropropene (cis-DCP) on function of the kidney and liver in the starch potato growing region in The Netherlands.


METHODS
The study involved 13 commercial application workers exposed to cis-DCP for 117 days, and 22 matched control workers. The inhalatory exposure of the application workers was estimated from biological monitoring data. All workers collected urine and serum samples before, during, and after the fumigation season for monitoring of variables for kidney and liver function. Renal effect variables were alanine aminopeptidase (AAP), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), retinol binding protein (RBP), and albumin (ALB) in urine, and beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)M-S) and creatinine in serum (Creat-S). Liver variables were alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin (TBIL) in serum and the urinary ratio of 6-beta-hydroxycortisol to free cortisol (betaOHC/COR).


RESULTS
The geometric mean exposure of the application workers was 2.7 mg/m(3) (8 hour time weighted average (8 hour TWA)); range 0.1-9.5 mg/m(3). No differences were found between the values of the renal effect variables or the liver variables of the exposed group and the control group, except a lower urinary ratio of betaOHC/COR in the exposed group. This was not considered to be related to the exposure to cis-DCP. No dose-effect relations were found between the exposure indices and the effect variables.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study does not provide evidence that occupational exposure to cis-DCP in the starch potato growing region causes adverse effects on the kidney or liver at 8 hour TWA exposure concentrations below 9.5 mg/m(3) (2 ppm).
Verplanke
A J
AJ
Coronel Laboratory for Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Human Toxicology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22700, 1100 DE Amsterdam, The Netherlands. tverplan@amsterdam.arbounie.al
Bloemen
L J
LJ
Brouwer
E J
EJ
Van Sittert NJ
Boogaard
P J
PJ
Herber
R F
RF
De Wolff FA
D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D000498:Allyl Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005651:Fumigation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D007306:Insecticides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000652:urine; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D011198:Solanum tuberosum
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000498:Allyl Compounds; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D007306:Insecticides; C023891:1,3-dichloro-1-propene