HAEMATOLOGICAL EFFECTS AMONG SILK SCREENING WORKERS EXPOSED TO 2- ETHOXY ETHYL ACETATE
Resource
OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE v.60 n.9 pp.ART. NO. E7
Journal
OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE
Journal Volume
v.60
Journal Issue
NO.
Pages
-
Date Issued
2003
Date
2003
Author(s)
LIN, YI-CHANG
CHEN, CHIA-YANG
Abstract
Background: 2-Ethoxy ethyl acetate (2-EEA) is a solvent with broad industrial and commercial applications. It has been reported to cause hematological toxicity, infertility, and teratogenesis. Aims: To investigate the haematological effects in 2-EEA exposed workers. Methods: Workers from one silk screening shop (n = 29), sing 2-EEA as the major cleaning and printing solvent, were recruited as a high exposure group. Workers with indirect and non-exposure to 2- EEA ( n = 56) were recruited as the comparison group. Venous blood was collected for blood routine examination. Air concentration of 2-EEA in this plant was measured by eight hour personal sampling. Results: The geometric mean ( GM) of air concentration of 2-EEA in the high exposure group was 7.41 ppm ( range 1.35 - 16.5 pppm). The mean exposure of female workers ( GM = 9.34 ppm) was significantly higher than that of male workers ( GM = 4.87 ppm). The GM of air 2- EEA concentration in the comparison group was 0.07 ppm ( range: non-detectable to 3.62 ppm, n = 26). The haemoglobin and haematocrit in the female high 2-EEA exposure workers were significantly lower than those of female workers in the comparison group. No difference was found between male 2- EEA high exposure and comparison group workers. The haemoglobin, haematocrit, and RBC count in the study population had a significant dose-response relation with air 2-EEA levels. Conclusion: Results suggest that 2-EEA is a haematological toxicant, which leads to anaemic status in high exposure female workers.
Subjects
GLYCOL MONOMETHYL ETHER
2-METHOXY ACETIC-ACID
MONOETHYL ETHER
SHIPYARD PAINTERS
ORGANIC-SOLVENTS
URINARY-EXCRETION
Type
journal article