Association between dioxins/furans exposures and incinerator workers' hepatic function and blood lipids.

Abstract

This study examined the effects of dioxins/furans on blood lipids and hepatic function and assessed potential interaction between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and dioxins on hepatic function for 133 male workers of municipal waste incinerators. We found that total cholesterol levels in workers with blood dioxins/furans levels of 15.4-59.0 pg TEQ/g lipid (high-exposure workers) averaged 13.5 mg/dL higher than workers with 5.5-15.3 pg TEQ/g lipid (low-exposure workers). The adjusted odds ratio for total cholesterol abnormality (>220 mg/dL) was 2.8 (95% confidence interval = 1.0-7.9) between high and low-exposure workers. High-exposure workers showed consistently, although not statistically significantly, higher abnormality in gamma-glutamyltransferase (>52 U/L), alanine aminotransferase (>41 U/L), and aspartate aminotransferase (>37 U/L) than did low-exposure workers. However, there was no statistically significant interaction between dioxins/furans and HBV on these hepatic enzymes among incinerator workers.

• Authors: Suh-Woan Hu, Tsun-Jen Cheng, Guo-Ping ChangChien, Chang-Chuan Chan
• Journal: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine (J Occup Environ Med) Vol. 45 Issue 6 Pg. 601-8 (Jun 2003) ISSN: 1076-2752 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12802213 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Dioxins
• Furans
• Lipids

Topics

• Adult
• Dioxins (blood)
• Education, Continuing
• Fatty Liver (blood, diagnostic imaging, enzymology)
• Furans (blood)
• Hepatitis B (blood, enzymology)
• Humans
• Incineration
• Lipids (blood)
• Liver (enzymology, physiopathology)
• Liver Function Tests
• Male
• Occupational Exposure (analysis)
• Refuse Disposal
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Taiwan
• Ultrasonography