Hazardous environmental factors enhance impairment of liver function in HBV and HCV hepatitis.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) often cause chronic liver disease. We hypothesized that environmental factors adversely impact the liver function in workers with these types of hepatitis. We used liver function tests including aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and g -glutamyltransferase to evaluate whether hazardous work conditions increase the incidence of chronic liver disease among HBV and HCV infected workers. Organic solvent, night work, visual display terminals, dust, lead, vibrations, and ionizing radiation all led to increased impairment of liver function in patients with hepatitis as compared to the control group that were not exposed to such agents. Therefore, hazardous working conditions have to be carefully considered in the progress of chronic liver disease in workers infected with HBV and HCV.
Yashima
Yasunori
Y
Department of Environmental Health, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan.
Oyama
Tsunehiro
T
Pham
Thi Thu Phuong
TT
Yamaguchi
Tetunosuke
T
Narai
Rie
R
Isse
Toyohi
T
Uramoto
Hidetaka
H
Sugio
Kenji
K
Yasumoto
Kosei
K
Kagawa
Norio
N
Kawamoto
Toshihiro
T
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires