Study of the Liver Function in a Plastic Processing Industry Workers Exposed to Styrene in 1382 (2003)

Styrene is one of the aromatic solvents that releases in plastic processing in dustries. This study was conducted to determine whether low to moderate exposure to styrene affect the liver function in workers of an industrial plastic production. A cross sectional study was performed comparing serum hepatic transaminases [alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)], cholestatic enzymes [alkaline�phosphatase (ALP) and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT)], and bilirubin�in 58 workers of plastic pruduction industry who were exposed�to styrene and 52 workers without exposure (control group) from the same factory. Exposure to styrene was�assessed in air by dosimetry and gas chromatography during the working hours. Mean concentration of styrene defined as 18 ppm in air. After statistical analysis, a significant difference was noted for mean ALT and total bilirubin between the case and control groups. Eventhough the means of the other laboratory data (AST, GGT, ALP, direct bilirubin), were higher in the case group compared to the control but the differences were not significant. The consistent findings of increased total bilirubin and ALT concentrations in this study provide evidence�for the diminished hepatic clearance of bilirubin with�associated metabolic�dysfunction in workers exposed to styrene, so periodic evaluation of liver function tests is recommended for plastic processing industries workers.