Study of blood met-hemoglobin, liver functions and urinary metabolites among trinitrotoluene [TNT] workers

ABSTRACT

This study was done on 55 non-belharzial workers, in an Egyptian military factory, exposed to T.N.T. and other 20 non-exposed controls. Each worker was subjected to full clinical history and examination, analysis of urine for T.N.T. metabolites, blood for Met-Hb., serum for GPT and Ap and plasma for albumen,. Results indicated that exposure to T.N.T. could lead to significant rise in serum Ap and also to significant increase in liver span, early before the appearance of manifested jaundice. Both parameters could serve as early indicators for T.N.T. hepatotoxicity. Also we found that GPT did not show similar significant difference between exposed and non-exposed workers. On the other hand the measurements of blood Met-Hb. and T.N.T. metabolites in urine proved to be sensitive indicators for T.N.T. exposure and absorption respectively, but not for hepatotoxicity