Relationship between acetone exposure concentration and health effects in acetate fiber plant workers

Abstract

In order to clarify the effects of acetone (AC) exposure on health, a cross-sectional study was carried out in 110 male AC-exposed and 67 male nonexposed shift workers. The AC workers ranged in age from 18.7 to 56.8 years (mean: 37.6 years) and in length of AC exposure from 0.5 to 34.3 years (mean: 14.9 years). The nonexposed workers ranged in age from 20.7 to 57.5 years (mean: 41.9 years). AC exposure levels assessed by personal passive monitors and biological monitoring indices measured at the end of the workshift were 19.6-1018 ppm in the breathing zone (AC-E, mean: 364 ppm), 2.5-422 ppm in alveolar air (AC-A, mean: 97.3 ppm) 4-220 mg/l in blood (AC-B, mean 66.0 ppm), and 0.75-170 mg/l in urine (AC-U, mean: 37.8 mg/l). Symptoms at the end of the workshift with good exposure-response relationships were eye irritation, tearing, and acetone odor, and symptoms within the previous 6 months with good exposure-response relationships were heavy, vague, or faint feeling in the head, nausea, loss of weight, and slow healing of an external wound. In the 30-44 year age range, simple reaction time and digit span scores in a short computerized neuro-behavioral test battery were significantly lower in AC workers, but exposure-response relationships were not clear. Manifest Anxiety Scale scores, Self-rating Depression Scale scores, R-R interval variation on the ECG, hematological examinations, serum biochemistry examinations for liver function, and phagocytic activity of peripheral neutrophils did not show any AC-related differences between the two groups. In view of the reported findings, the current occupational exposure limit of 750 ppm recommended by many governmental and academic associations seems to be too high to prevent the health effects of AC observed in this study.

Gases and organic solvents in urine as biomarkers of occupational exposure: a review

“…All biological exposure indicators (acetone in whole blood and urine) correlated significantly with the intensity of exposure to the corresponding solvent during the shift (Table 8). Satoh et al (1996) monitored 110 male workers exposed to acetone in three acetate-fibre manufacturing plants on two consecutive working days after 2 days without exposure. The workers were also exposed to styrene.…”

Inactivation of Mycobacterium bovis in cattle slurry by five volatile chemicals

“…This highly flammable chemical can produce explosive mixtures with air. Toxic effects and health symptoms in humans associated with exposure to acetone include central nervous system depression, headache, fatigue and irritation of the eyes and mucous membranes (Satoh et al . 1996).…”

Local effects in the respiratory tract: relevance of subjectively measured irritation for setting occupational exposure limits

“…Behavioural effects. Well-being, mood states and health complaints are studied by means of selfadministered questionnaires or structured interviews that measure annoyance (Dick et al 1989;Seeber et al 1991aSeeber et al , b, 1992aSeeber et al , b, 1993aKieswetter et al 1994;Satoh et al 1996;Dalton et al 1997a, b;Seeber et al 1997;Wysocki et al 1997). This can be called psychological irritation.…”