A survey of occupational health among polyether-exposed workers / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the occupational health of the workers simultaneously exposed to acrylonitrile, epoxyethane, epoxypropane, and styrene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A questionnaire survey was conducted in 70 front-line workers simultaneously exposed to acrylonitrile, epoxyethane, epoxypropane, and styrene (exposure group) and 50 managers (control group) in a polyether manufacturer; in addition, air monitoring at workplace and occupational health examination were also performed. The obtained data were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The female workers in exposure group and the spouses of male workers in exposure group had significantly higher spontaneous abortion rates than their counterparts in control group (P < 0.01). The exposure group had a significantly higher abnormal rate of blood urea nitrogen than the control group (P < 0.01). The workers with different polyether-exposed working years had significantly higher mean levels of DNA damage than the control group (P < 0.01); the workers with not less than 5 and less than 20 polyether-exposed working years and those with not less than 20 polyether-exposed working years had significantly higher mean micronucleus rates than the control group (P < 0.01); there were no significant differences in overall chromosome aberration rate and mean level of DNA damage between each two groups of workers with different polyether-exposed working years (P > 0.05); the workers with not less than 5 and less than 20 polyether-exposed working years and workers with not less than 20 polyether-exposed working years had significantly higher mean micronucleus rates than those with less than 5 polyether-exposed working years (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Simultaneous exposure to acrylonitrile, epoxyethane, epoxypropane, and styrene causes occupational hazards among the workers in polyether manufacturer.</p>