Abstract:
Objective To observe the changes of serum liver function indexes among workers occupationally exposed to acrylamide.
Methods Totally 32 workers with exposure to acrylamide for 10 years in an acrylamide-production plant were studied.The concentrations of acrylamide at workplaces were measured.The physical examinations were done and these results were compared with those of non-exposed workers.
Results The concentrations of acrylamide at 5 workplaces varied from 0.15 to 0.28 mg/m
3,which were lower than national PC-TWA 0.3 mg/m
3.The serum biochemical indexes,such as glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (ALT),glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (AST),direct bilirubin (DBIL),triglyceride (TG),and high density cholesterol (HDL-C) of exposed workers were significantly different with those of non-exposed workers (
t=1.703,1.937,10.173,0.664,respectively,
P<0.05),and it was also found that there were significant differences in abnormal rates of liver function and blood lipids between exposed workers and non-exposed workers (
χ2=33.890,5.497,respectively,
P<0.05).
Conclusion Long-term exposure to acrylamide at low level may still cause liver damage.More attention should be given to workers exposed to acrylamide.