Exposure to volatile organic compounds and kidney dysfunction in thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) workers.
Many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted during the manufacturing of thin film transistor liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCDs), exposure to some of which has been reported to be associated with kidney dysfunction, but whether such an effect exists in TFT-LCD industry workers is unknown. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between exposure to VOCs and kidney dysfunction among TFT-LCD workers. The results showed that ethanol (1811.0+/-1740.4 ppb), acetone (669.0+/-561.0 ppb), isopropyl alcohol (187.0+/-205.3 ppb) and propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA) (102.9+/-102.0 ppb) were the four dominant VOCs present in the workplace. The 63 array workers studied had a risk of kidney dysfunction 3.21-fold and 3.84-fold that of 61 cell workers and 18 module workers, respectively. Workers cumulatively exposed to a total level of isopropyl alcohol, PGMEA and propylene glycol monomethyl ether> or =324 ppb-year had a significantly higher risk of kidney dysfunction (adjusted OR=3.41, 95% CI=1.14-10.17) compared with those exposed to <25 ppb-year after adjustment for potential confounding factors. These findings indicated that array workers might be the group at greatest risk of kidney dysfunction within the TFT-LCD industry, and cumulative exposure to specific VOCs might be associated with kidney dysfunction.
Department of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 40402, Taiwan, ROC. tychang@mail.cmu.edu.tw
Ta-Yuan
TY
Chang
Kuei-Hung
KH
Huang
Chiu-Shong
CS
Liu
Ruei-Hao
RH
Shie
Keh-Ping
KP
Chao
Wen-Hsin
WH
Hsu
Bo-Ying
BY
Bao
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004581:Electronics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D050866:Liquid Crystals; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008838:Microcomputers; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D009930:Organic Chemicals; D014527:Uric Acid; D003404:Creatinine