title: Peripheral blood counts in workers exposed to synthetic fibres.
abstract: Acrylonitrile is an intermediary with possible adverse health effects in the synthesis of organic products, such as acrylic fibres. This investigation was undertaken to determine the possible changes in the peripheral blood counts in workers of a polyacrylic fibres plant. The study involved 218 workers exposed to acrylonitrile at low doses and a control group of 200 unexposed workers. The chosen subjects underwent blood tests in order to check their haematological parameters. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of the red blood cells, haemoglobin and total number of leukocytes. An increase in the neutrophils associated with a reduction of lymphocytes, both statistically significant, was observed. The authors hypothesized that the neutrophils are influenced by the exposure to acrylonitrile at low doses.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Unit of Occupational Medicine , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Caciari
authors.forename: Teodorico
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Casale
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Loreti
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Schifano
authors.forename: Assunta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capozzella
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Scala
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Sio
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tomei
authors.forename: Maria V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Rosati
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tomei
mesh_terms: D000181:Acrylonitrile / Q000633:toxicity*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011108:Polymers / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011108:Polymers; D000181:Acrylonitrile