Haematological effects among silk screening workers exposed to 2-ethoxy ethyl acetate.
BACKGROUND
2-Ethoxy ethyl acetate (2-EEA) is a solvent with broad industrial and commercial applications. It has been reported to cause hematological toxicity, infertility, and teratogenesis.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the haematological effects in 2-EEA exposed workers.


METHODS
Workers from one silk screening shop (n = 29), using 2-EEA as the major cleaning and printing solvent, were recruited as a high exposure group. Workers with indirect and non-exposure to 2-EEA (n = 56) were recruited as the comparison group. Venous blood was collected for blood routine examination. Air concentration of 2-EEA in this plant was measured by eight hour personal sampling.


RESULTS
The geometric mean (GM) of air concentration of 2-EEA in the high exposure group was 7.41 ppm (range 1.35-16.5 pppm). The mean exposure of female workers (GM = 9.34 ppm) was significantly higher than that of male workers (GM = 4.87 ppm). The GM of air 2-EEA concentration in the comparison group was 0.07 ppm (range: non-detectable to 3.62 ppm, n = 26). The haemoglobin and haematocrit in the female high 2-EEA exposure workers were significantly lower than those of female workers in the comparison group. No difference was found between male 2-EEA high exposure and comparison group workers. The haemoglobin, haematocrit, and RBC count in the study population had a significant dose-response relation with air 2-EEA levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that 2-EEA is a haematological toxicant, which leads to anaemic status in high exposure female workers.
Loh
C-H
CH
Department of Family Medicine & Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, 325 Cheng-Kung Road, Sec. 2, Nei-Hu, Taipei, Taiwan 114, ROC. twdoc@ndmctsgh.edu.tw
Shih
T-S
TS
Liou
S-H
SH
Lin
Y-C
YC
Hsieh
A-T
AT
Chen
C-Y
CY
Liao
G-D
GD
D000085:Acetates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D019476:Insect Proteins; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D047011:Silk; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013783:Textile Industry; D013784:Textiles
D000085:Acetates; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D019476:Insect Proteins; D047011:Silk; D012997:Solvents; C007650:ethyl acetate