Liver function in workers exposed to N,N-dimethylformamide during the production of synthetic textiles |
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Authors: | R Wrbitzky |
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Institution: | (1) Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine (Dir.: Prof. Dr. med. Dr. med. h.c. G. Lehnert), University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Schillerstrasse 25 + 29, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany e-mail: Renate.Wrbitzky@rzmail.uni-erlangen.de Fax: 0049 9131 822317, DE |
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Abstract: | In a factory producing synthetic fibers the hepatotoxic effects of the solvent N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) were investigated in 126 male employees, especially with regard to the combination effects of DMF
exposure and ethyl alcohol consumption. A collective of similar structure from the same factory served as a control collective.
Methods: Reference is made to the results of air measurements and biological monitoring presented in a previous publication. The DMF
concentrations in the air ranged from <0.1 (detection limit) to 37.9 ppm (median 1.2 ppm). Concentrations of the DMF metabolite
N-methylformamide (NMF) in urine were 0.05–22.0 mg/l (preshift) and 0.9–100.0 mg/l (postshift), corresponding to 0.02–44.6 mg/g
creatinine (preshift) and 0.4–62.3 mg/g creatinine (postshift). A standardized anamnesis was drawn up for relevant previous
illnesses and other factors influencing liver function. The laboratory tests included parameters especially relevant to the
liver (e.g., AST, ALT, γ-GT, hepatitis B and C antibodies, and carbohydrate-deficient transferrin). Results: The results indicate a statistically significant toxic influence of DMF on liver function. Alcohol has a synergistic effect.
The effects of DMF and those of alcohol are dose-dependent. Under the existing workplace conditions the hepatotoxic effects
of alcohol are more severe than those of DMF. In the exposed group there was a statistically significantly greater number
of persons who stated that they had drunk less since the beginning of exposure (13% versus 0). This corresponded with the
data on symptoms occurring after alcohol consumption (71% versus 4%). In the work areas with lower-level exposure to DMF there
was greater alcohol consumption. It corresponded to that of the control collective not exposed to DMF. Conclusion: In this study we tried to differentiate and quantify the interaction between DMF exposure and alcohol consumption and the
influence of both substances on liver function. The experience gained from former occupational health surveillance in DMF-exposed
persons and from the present study show that there are individual differences in tolerance of interactions between DMF and
ethyl alcohol. Further studies are necessary for the evaluation of these individual degrees of susceptibilitiy.
Received: 23 February 1998 / Accepted: 19 August 1998 |
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Keywords: | Dimethylformamide Occupational exposure Liver toxicity Alcohol consumption |
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