Evaluation of possible health risk associated with occupational exposure to formaldehyde

摘要

Widespread us of formaldehyde in a variety of applications is known to result in appreciable exposure of workers and large segments of the general population. Because of possible genotoxic and immunotoxic effects, we investigated the health condition of people occupationally exposed to formaldehyde in a plant in which woodsplinter materials are manufactured. The concentration of formaldehyde in the workplace was greater than the average and peak concentrations of formaldehyde in Czechoslovakia (0.5 mg/m$+3$/ and 1 mg/m$+3$/ respectively). Selected parameters of genotoxicity (cytogenetic analysis, nucleolus test) and immunotoxocity (serum immunoglobulin G, A, M; complement C3, C4; alpha-1-anti-trypsine, alpha-2 macroglobulin, ceruloplasmin, transferrin, prealbumin, orosomucoid levels) were determined. The results of the evaluation of mitotic indices and the blastogen transformation point to an effect of the exposure to formaldehyde on r-RNA synthesis inhibition and lymphocyte maturation decrease. The frequency of aberrant cells in the peripheral blood lymphocytes was increased in both, exposed and control group and was above 1.2 - 2% of aberrant cells observed in the normal population in Czechoslovakia. There was no significant differences in the values of natural immunity and specific humoral immunity. Significant differences were observed in the values of mitogen-induced proliferation of lymphocytes between the exposed and the matching and background control groups. These changes are considered to be sensitive indicators of the potential effects on the integrity of a more important immunologic function.