Persistent liver dysfunction among workers at a vinyl chloride monomer polymerization plant. 1991

S F Ho, and W H Phoon, and S L Gan, and Y K Chan
Department of Industrial Health, Ministry of Labour, Singapore.

Thirteen workers with persistent abnormalities in one or more liver function tests (LFT) at a vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) polymerization plant were investigated. Twelve workers were found to have VCM-induced liver dysfunction based on circumstantial evidence. They were employed between 1971 and 1982 when the VCM levels ranged from 1 to 21 p.p.m. After 1982 when the environmental VCM levels were controlled to below 1 p.p.m., no cases of VCM-induced liver dysfunction were detected. In most cases, glutamic pyruvic transaminase was the earliest parameter to be raised. The second most common parameter is serum gamma glutamyl transpeptidase. The latent period ranged from 1 to 13 years. An improvement in their LFT results was shown by 83.3 per cent of workers within 6 months to 2 years after removal from further VCM exposure. For workers who returned to VCM work, their LFT became abnormal again. Liver scans showed hepato and/or splenomegaly in most cases. Liver biopsies on 9 workers were reported as 'non-specific fatty changes' of varying degrees. These observations highlight the need for continual vigilance with environmental monitoring and medical surveillance of VCM-exposed workers.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008107 Liver Diseases Pathological processes of the LIVER. Liver Dysfunction,Disease, Liver,Diseases, Liver,Dysfunction, Liver,Dysfunctions, Liver,Liver Disease,Liver Dysfunctions
D008111 Liver Function Tests Blood tests that are used to evaluate how well a patient's liver is working and also to help diagnose liver conditions. Function Test, Liver,Function Tests, Liver,Liver Function Test,Test, Liver Function,Tests, Liver Function
D008113 Liver Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the LIVER. Cancer of Liver,Hepatic Cancer,Liver Cancer,Cancer of the Liver,Cancer, Hepatocellular,Hepatic Neoplasms,Hepatocellular Cancer,Neoplasms, Hepatic,Neoplasms, Liver,Cancer, Hepatic,Cancer, Liver,Cancers, Hepatic,Cancers, Hepatocellular,Cancers, Liver,Hepatic Cancers,Hepatic Neoplasm,Hepatocellular Cancers,Liver Cancers,Liver Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Hepatic,Neoplasm, Liver
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D002617 Chemical Industry The aggregate enterprise of manufacturing and technically producing chemicals. (From Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed) Industry, Chemical,Chemical Industries,Industries, Chemical
D004784 Environmental Monitoring The monitoring of the level of toxins, chemical pollutants, microbial contaminants, or other harmful substances in the environment (soil, air, and water), workplace, or in the bodies of people and animals present in that environment. Monitoring, Environmental,Environmental Surveillance,Surveillance, Environmental
D006394 Hemangiosarcoma A rare malignant neoplasm characterized by rapidly proliferating, extensively infiltrating, anaplastic cells derived from blood vessels and lining irregular blood-filled or lumpy spaces. (Stedman, 25th ed) Angiosarcoma,Angiosarcomas,Hemangiosarcomas
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

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