Izvorni znanstveni članak
Medical surveillance studies of workers exposed to low level benzene
Ana Bogadi-Šare
; Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Rajka Turk
; Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Marija Zavalić
; Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Sažetak
The paper presents the results of an investigation of haematotoxicity in workers exposed to low benzene concentrations. Forty-seven female workers in the shoemaking industry, exposed to solvent mixture and twenty-seven non-exposed controls were examined. Benzene concentrations in the working atmosphere ranged from 1.9 to 14.8 ppm. Significant differences in the levels of benzene in blood and phenols in pre- and post-shift urine between the exposed and control groups confirmed benzene exposure.
Haemoglobin level and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were significantly lower, and mean corpuscular volume was higher in the shoemaking workers than in controls. In the subgroup of shoemaking workers exposed to benzene concentrations of 5 ppm or lower, no differences in haematological parameters were found. In conclusion, exposure to a benzene concentration lower than 5 ppm does not appear to produce an increased level of abnormal haematological outcomes detectable in routine medical surveillance. The results of the study corroborate the present maximum permissible concentrations (5 ppm) as a protective limit preventing the onset of haematotoxic non-leukemogenic effects of chronic benzene exposure.
Ključne riječi
haematotoxicity; low-level exposure; occupational exposure; routine blood tests
Hrčak ID:
145211
URI
Datum izdavanja:
16.4.1996.
Posjeta: 1.426 *