Occupational coke oven emissions exposure and risk of abnormal liver function: modifications of body mass index and hepatitis virus infection.
OBJECTIVE
Occupational coke oven emissions (COEs) have been considered an important health issue. However, there are no conclusive data on human hepatic injury due to COE exposure. The association of COE exposure with liver function was explored and the effects of modification of potential non-occupational factors were assessed.


METHODS
705 coke oven workers and 247 referents were investigated. Individual cumulative COE exposure was quantitatively estimated. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis C antibody were measured.


RESULTS
Among those with high COE exposure, the adjusted ORs of abnormal ALT and AST were 5.23 (95% CI 2.66 to 10.27) and 1.95 (95% CI 1.18 to 3.52), respectively. Overweight individuals (body mass index (BMI) > or =25 kg/m(2)) with high COE exposure had elevated risks of abnormal ALT (adjusted OR 23.93, 95% CI 8.73 to 65.62) and AST (adjusted OR 5.18, 95% CI 2.32 to 11.58). Risk of liver damage in hepatitis B virus- or hepatitis C virus-positive individuals with COE exposure was also elevated.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term exposure to COE increases the risk of liver dysfunction, which is more prominent among those with higher BMI and hepatitis virus infection. The risk assessment of liver damage associated with COE exposure should take BMI and hepatitis virus infection into consideration.
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. yphu@shmu.edu.cn
Y
Y
Hu
B
B
Chen
J
J
Qian
L
L
Jin
T
T
Jin
D
D
Lu
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003077:Coke / Q000633:toxicity*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; D003077:Coke