The Biochemical and Genotoxic Effects of Occupational Exposure to Vinyl Chloride Monomer

Saad, Aziza A.; Abdel Mohsen, Mohamed A.; Kholeif, Soha F.; Mowafy, Mohamed N.; Mahdy, Mostafa M.; Mohamed, Jihan H.

doi:10.21608/jhiph.2003.199240

The Biochemical and Genotoxic Effects of Occupational Exposure to Vinyl Chloride Monomer

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Applied Medical Chemistry Department, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Egypt

² Human Genetics Department, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Egypt

³ Internal Medicine Department, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Egypt

⁴ Management Manager of Development and Technical Studies, Egyptian Petrochemicals Company, Egypt

10.21608/jhiph.2003.199240

Abstract

Vinyl chloride [VC], is the starting point in the manufacture of the ubiquitous plastic poly vinyl chloride [PVC]. It has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer [IARC] as group 1 carcinogen. The study was conducted with the aim of investigating the biochemical and genotoxic effects of occupational exposure to VCM. The study included 84 workers occupationally exposed to VCM; 54 working in the Petrochemical Company and 30 working in EI Masria company, and 20 subjects as a control. Biochemical assessment of the occupationally exposed group involved determination of glutathione [GSH] content in whole blood, erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase [GPx] and glutathione S-transferase [GST]. Twenty workers showed elevation in these biochemical parameters. They were subjected to cytogenetic investigations including blood cultures for sister chromatid exchange [SCE] evaluation and micronucleus [MN] assay. Cytogenetic evaluation was performed to 6 of the control group using both SCE evaluation and MN assay. Statistical analysis of variance between groups [One way ANOVA] revealed a significant decrease in GSH level as well as in GPx level in blood of workers when compared to the control group and a significant increase in level of GST in workers when compared to the control group.The mean SCE/cell for the exposed workers was higher than that of the control. The difference was statistically not significant [t=0.77]. The mean MN/500 cytokinesis blocked binucleated cells was higher in the occupationally exposed workers as compared the control group. The difference was statistically significant [t=5].

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