Assessment of liver function in two groups of outdoor workers exposed to arsenic

Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2014;87(7):745-52. doi: 10.1007/s00420-013-0914-5. Epub 2013 Oct 29.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate whether the exposure to arsenic (As) causes alterations of liver enzymes in two groups of outdoor workers.

Methods: Total urinary As and the levels of AST/GOT, ALT/GPT, and GGT were measured on 80 traffic policemen and 50 police drivers. Personal air samples were obtained for assessing the exposure to As on a subgroup of 20 traffic policemen and 20 police drivers.

Results: Mean values of personal exposure to As, urinary As, AST/GOT, and ALT/GPT were significantly higher in traffic policemen than in the police drivers. Multiple linear regression models showed associations between urinary As and airborne As, ALT/GPT and the job variables, and BMI and urinary As.

Conclusions: These findings contribute toward the evaluation of the hepatic effects of exposure to As in the urban workers.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Air Pollutants, Occupational / pharmacology*
  • Arsenic / pharmacology*
  • Diet
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Liver / enzymology*
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Police*
  • Urban Population

Substances

  • Air Pollutants, Occupational
  • Arsenic