Exposure of women to chemical solvents during work at chemical plants and its relation to various biochemical parameters
Lembas-Bogaczyk, J.; Jacyszyn, K.; Adamek, D.; Student, J.
Medycyna Pracy 40(2): 111-118
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0465-5893 PMID: 2796729 Document Number: 339201
The studies covered 211 women employed at a Technical Articles Plant in exposure to chemical solvents, such as: methyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, acetone, carbon tetrachloride, xylene, toluene, n-amyl acetate. The workplaces were ventilated and the concentrations of vapours did not exceed Threshold Limit Values (TLVs). Arithmetic means did not reveal any exposure to chemicals at particular plant divisions, which was also confirmed by the indices of admissible concentrations of chemicals or their metabolites in biological fluids (ABC--admissible biological concentrations). Morphological tests of blood and enzymatic determinations in their mean values did not indicate any toxic effects. On the other hand, individual analysis of every working woman demonstrated deviations from the values of the parameters determined. The changes referred mostly to the duration of coagulation, bleeding and methanol absorption, which points to the need for prevention and protection of the working women against occupational hazards.