Epidemiological Study On The Workers Exposed To Vinyl Chloride And Mutagenicity Study

Objective:Although Vinyl chloride is a certain carcinogen, the toxicity of VC is also a problem to be resolved according to epidemiological , environmental and biological study. To study the toxicity of VC and to edit the VC poisoning diagnostic standard , environmental monitoring , cross-sectional study on physical examination and retrospective cohort study was performed. To study the mutagenesis , reproduction and behavioral toxicity on mice under different dose, some toxicological experiments was also performed. Methods:The data of VC concentration for 1986-2000 and data of worker physical examination was analysised, compare the symptom and sign between exposed and control workers; A cohort study was performed on the death causes of 305 exposed workers for a period of 16 years and study the SMR; Micronucleus , semen malformation and water maze test of mice was performed to study the mutagenesis , reproduction and behaviral toxicity of VC. Results:The average concentration of VC in workshop is 154.72 mg/m3 which is 4 times higher than national standard 30mg/m3. The increase in incidence of the nerve debility syndrome and neurobehavioral ; The result of cohort study showed that SMR of all cancer is 165.38, SMR of liver malignancy is 533.33, SMR of pancreas cancer is 101.01, The death rate of liver malignancy is significantly higher than that of controlgroup. Positive result occurred in all dose group in micronucleus test and semen malformation test; In water maze test, the memory of mice was affected after exposure to VC, but there is no statistics significant increase in RT.Conclusion:The concentration of VC and TWA in workshop is higher than national standard. To avoid the health hazard , periodical examination and health surveillance is necessary , especially the screening of liver malignancy and swell of liver &spleen. Vinyl chloride may be a mutagen and has reproduation toxicity; It suggested that long term exposure to VC had a harmful effect on neurobehavioral function in the exposed workers. There is significant relationship between VC exposure and liver hazard and the irritation symptom of pharynx. The liver malignancy is probably related to long-term low concentration vinyl chloride. The result of mice experiment indicated that VC may be a mutagen, and may be toxic in reproduction and memory.