Occupational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls in electrical workers. II. Health effects. 1981

M Maroni, and A Colombi, and G Arbosti, and S Cantoni, and V Foa

Health conditions were evaluated in 80 electrical workers exposed for many years to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixtures with a 42% mean chlorine content, who had blood PCB concentrations from 41 to 1319 micrograms/kg. The clinical study was based on personal history data, physical examination, and laboratory tests (red cell and leukocyte count; determination of haemoglobin, packed cell volume, bilirubin, serum protein electrophoretic fractions, pseudocholinesterase, AST, ALT, GGT, and OCT). Fifteen workers were found to have skin diseases--chloracne (4), folliculitis (4), oil dermatitis (1), juvenile acne (1), and dermatitis due to irritative or allergic agents (5). Sixteen workers showed more or less pronounced hepatic involvement, consisting most often of hepatomegaly with an increase in serum GGT, AST, ALT, and OCT values. In two workers bleeding cavernous haemangiomas were discovered, in one case associated with chronic myelocytic leukaemia. All the workers with chloracne were employed on electric capacitor impregnation with PCBs, and no definite association was found between chloracne and blood PCB concentrations. Conversely, a significant positive association was found between the abnormal liver findings and blood PCB concentrations, particularly trichlorobiphenyl blood concentrations. The abnormal hepatic findings observed are similar to those reported in experimental animals given PCBs, and in some workers such findings should probably be considered as clinical signs of hepatic microsomal enzyme induction.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007951 Leukemia, Myeloid Form of leukemia characterized by an uncontrolled proliferation of the myeloid lineage and their precursors (MYELOID PROGENITOR CELLS) in the bone marrow and other sites. Granulocytic Leukemia,Leukemia, Granulocytic,Leukemia, Myelocytic,Leukemia, Myelogenous,Myelocytic Leukemia,Myelogenous Leukemia,Myeloid Leukemia,Leukemia, Monocytic, Chronic,Monocytic Leukemia, Chronic,Chronic Monocytic Leukemia,Chronic Monocytic Leukemias,Granulocytic Leukemias,Leukemia, Chronic Monocytic,Leukemias, Chronic Monocytic,Leukemias, Granulocytic,Leukemias, Myelocytic,Leukemias, Myelogenous,Leukemias, Myeloid,Monocytic Leukemias, Chronic,Myelocytic Leukemias,Myelogenous Leukemias,Myeloid Leukemias
D008107 Liver Diseases Pathological processes of the LIVER. Liver Dysfunction,Disease, Liver,Diseases, Liver,Dysfunction, Liver,Dysfunctions, Liver,Liver Disease,Liver Dysfunctions
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009783 Dermatitis, Occupational A recurrent contact dermatitis caused by substances found in the work place. Occupational Dermatitis,Dermatosis, Industrial,Industrial Dermatosis,Dermatitides, Occupational,Dermatoses, Industrial,Industrial Dermatoses,Occupational Dermatitides
D009784 Occupational Diseases Diseases caused by factors involved in one's employment. Diseases, Occupational,Occupational Illnesses,Disease, Occupational,Illnesse, Occupational,Illnesses, Occupational,Occupational Disease,Occupational Illnesse
D011078 Polychlorinated Biphenyls Industrial products consisting of a mixture of chlorinated biphenyl congeners and isomers. These compounds are highly lipophilic and tend to accumulate in fat stores of animals. Many of these compounds are considered toxic and potential environmental pollutants. PCBs,Polychlorinated Biphenyl,Polychlorobiphenyl Compounds,Biphenyl, Polychlorinated,Biphenyls, Polychlorinated,Compounds, Polychlorobiphenyl
D004560 Electricity The physical effects involving the presence of electric charges at rest and in motion.
D005260 Female Females
D006392 Hemangioma, Cavernous A vascular anomaly that is a collection of tortuous BLOOD VESSELS and connective tissue. This tumor-like mass with the large vascular space is filled with blood and usually appears as a strawberry-like lesion in the subcutaneous areas of the face, extremities, or other regions of the body including the central nervous system. Angioma, Cavernous,Cavernous Angioma,Cavernous Hemangioma,Strawberry Hemangiomas,Cavernous Hemangiomas,Hemangioma, Strawberry,Hemangiomas, Cavernous,Hemangiomas, Strawberry,Strawberry Hemangioma

Related Publications

M Maroni, and A Colombi, and G Arbosti, and S Cantoni, and V Foa
December 2017, Neurotoxicology,
M Maroni, and A Colombi, and G Arbosti, and S Cantoni, and V Foa
June 1985, British journal of industrial medicine,
M Maroni, and A Colombi, and G Arbosti, and S Cantoni, and V Foa
May 1985, Environmental health perspectives,
M Maroni, and A Colombi, and G Arbosti, and S Cantoni, and V Foa
November 1982, British journal of industrial medicine,
M Maroni, and A Colombi, and G Arbosti, and S Cantoni, and V Foa
January 1984, Reviews on environmental health,
M Maroni, and A Colombi, and G Arbosti, and S Cantoni, and V Foa
August 2003, European journal of cancer prevention : the official journal of the European Cancer Prevention Organisation (ECP),
M Maroni, and A Colombi, and G Arbosti, and S Cantoni, and V Foa
October 1986, Environmental research,
M Maroni, and A Colombi, and G Arbosti, and S Cantoni, and V Foa
May 2022, International journal of environmental health research,
M Maroni, and A Colombi, and G Arbosti, and S Cantoni, and V Foa
October 2006, Environmental health perspectives,
M Maroni, and A Colombi, and G Arbosti, and S Cantoni, and V Foa
February 2009, Environmental health perspectives,
Copied contents to your clipboard!