[Investigation on injury of liver and kidney among the workers exposed to terephthalic acid, ethylene glycol and(or) dowtherm A].
OBJECTIVE
To study injury of liver and kidney among the workers exposed to terephthalic acid(TPA), ethylene glycol(EG) and(or) dowtherm A(DOW), and research for early biological monitoring indexes.


METHODS
By using the method of occupational epidemiology, an investigation of industrial hygiene in a chemical fibre corporation was carried out and the changes of the liver and kidney functions were analyzed among the workers who had been exposed to TPA, EG, DOW.


RESULTS
The values of serum gamma-glutamyl traspetidase(GGT) and total bile acid(TBA) in TPA + EG + DOW group men were (35.45 +/- 16.09) U/L, (10.29 +/- 6.76) mumol/L respectively and the values of serum alanine transaminase(ALT) and TBA in TPA + EG + DOW group women were(30.68 +/- 8.58) U/L, (9.53 +/- 6.63) mumol/L respectively, significantly higher than those in TPA, DOW and control groups(P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with TPA, DOW and control groups, the values of urine N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase(NAG) and beta 2-2-microglobulim (beta 2-MG) in TPA + EG + DOW group of both men and women increased significantly(P < 0.05, P < 0.01), with(5.68 +/- 4.01) U/mmol Cr and (23.49 +/- 13.44) mg/mol Cr, and(6.68 +/- 4.68) U/mmol Cr and (22.80 +/- 13.00) mg/mol Cr, respectively. Analysis of regression indicated that both liver and renal injuries of the workers were evidently correlated with their exposure to TPA, EG and DOW after adjustment for the confounding factors such as sex, smoking, drinking, etc(P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Based on available knowledge, it is reasonable to assume that the joint actions should be considered on the injury of liver and kidney caused by TPA, EG and(or) DOW among the workers. Serum ALT, GGT, TBA, urine NAG and beta 2-MG should be suggested as biomarkers for liver and kidney damage.
Yao
Hongwei
H
Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211900, China.
Wang
Xinru
X
Wang
Dingxian
D
Shi
Aimin
A
Xu
Xikun
X
Yang
Zhengnan
Z
Li
Zelin
Z
D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase / Q000652:urine; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000097:blood; D019855:Ethylene Glycol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000633:toxicity*; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000633:toxicity*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D010795:Phthalic Acids; C011363:terephthalic acid; C032244:dowtherm; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase; D019855:Ethylene Glycol