Singthong Siriporn, Pakkong Pannee, Choosang Kantima, Wongsanit Sarinya
Kasetsart University.
Glob J Health Sci. 2014 Aug 22;7(1):161-72. doi: 10.5539/gjhs.v7n1p161.
Trichloroethylene (TCE) is an important volatile organic compound once widely used in industry throughout the world. Occupational exposure to TCE can cause a number of health hazards such as allergic reactions and genetic damage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate occupational exposure to TCE, by analysis of the air in the breathing zone and of urine from workers employed in a clock manufacturing factory. A subjective symptom survey was conducted by using a self-administered questionnaire to evaluate the health hazards. Micronucleus (MN) frequency, based on the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay (CBMN) in peripheral blood lymphocytes, (PBLs) was used as a biomarker for chromosome damage. A total of 244 participants, including 171 workers occupationally exposed to TCE and 73 non-exposed control employees, working mainly in office jobs in the same factory, were enrolled in this study. Analyses of airborne TCE concentrations in the workplace, and of urinary trichloroacetic acid (TCA) of the workers and controls, were performed by Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD) using the modified headspace technique. The average concentration of TCE in the workplace breathing zone was 27.83 ± 6.02 ppm. The average level of urinary TCA of the exposed workers and controls was 14.84 ± 1.62, 2.95 ± 0.28 mg/L. The frequency of MN/1000BN was 7.029 ± 0.39, significantly higher than for those in the control group (3.57 ± 0.31, p = 0.001). According to multiple linear regression analysis, the results indicated that urinary TCA levels correlated with the increased MN in exposed workers (r = 0.285, p < 0.001). The prevalence rate of subjective symptoms in the exposed group was 9.61-11.76 times higher than the rate of the non-exposed group (p < 0.001). It was found that skin (29.6%) and respiratory symptoms (21.1%) were the most frequent among the exposed workers. In conclusion, these results indicate that increased micronucleus frequency is associated with occupational trichloroethylene exposure. The use of TCE in the factory is threatening workers' health.
三氯乙烯（TCE）是一种重要的挥发性有机化合物，曾在全球范围内广泛应用于工业领域。职业接触三氯乙烯会导致多种健康危害，如过敏反应和基因损伤。本研究旨在通过分析一家钟表制造厂工人呼吸带空气和尿液，评估三氯乙烯的职业接触情况。采用自行填写的问卷进行主观症状调查，以评估健康危害。基于外周血淋巴细胞胞质分裂阻滞微核试验（CBMN）的微核（MN）频率被用作染色体损伤的生物标志物。本研究共纳入244名参与者，其中包括171名职业接触三氯乙烯的工人和73名未接触的对照员工，后者主要在同一家工厂从事办公室工作。采用改良顶空技术，通过气相色谱 - 电子捕获检测器（GC - ECD）对工作场所空气中三氯乙烯浓度以及工人和对照人员的尿中三氯乙酸（TCA）进行分析。工作场所呼吸带三氯乙烯的平均浓度为27.83±6.02 ppm。接触组和对照组工人尿中三氯乙酸的平均水平分别为14.84±1.62、2.95±0.28 mg/L。每千个嗜多染红细胞微核（MN/1000BN）频率为7.029±0.39，显著高于对照组（3.57±0.31，p = 0.001）。根据多元线性回归分析，结果表明接触组工人尿中三氯乙酸水平与微核增加相关（r = 0.285，p < 0.001）。接触组主观症状患病率比未接触组高9.61 - 11.76倍（p < 0.001）。研究发现，接触组工人中皮肤症状（29.6%）和呼吸道症状（21.1%）最为常见。总之，这些结果表明微核频率增加与职业性三氯乙烯接触有关。该工厂使用三氯乙烯正威胁着工人的健康。
