Retrospective assessment of specific effects of exposure of workers to PCBs in Slovakia
Introduction and objective Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been used commercially since 1929 as dielectric and insulating non-flammable substances, additives for paints, etc. In Slovakia, 60 chemical production workers highly exposed to PCBs (mainly to Delor 103) were studied with duration of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Institute of Rural Health
2018-09-01
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| Series: | Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.journalssystem.com/aaem/Retrospective-assessment-of-specific-effects-of-exposure-of-workers-to-PCBs-in-Slovakia,86307,0,2.html |
| _version_ | 1811336256659914752 |
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| author | Tatiana Kimáková Zuzana Nevolná Janka Vašková Vladimír Bencko |
| author_facet | Tatiana Kimáková Zuzana Nevolná Janka Vašková Vladimír Bencko |
| author_sort | Tatiana Kimáková |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction and objective
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been used commercially since 1929 as dielectric and insulating non-flammable substances, additives for paints, etc. In Slovakia, 60 chemical production workers highly exposed to PCBs (mainly to Delor 103) were studied with duration of exposure ranging from 3 months to 19 years.
Material and methods
Clinical examinations of skin, skin histology and laboratory tests concerning lipid metabolism, iron metabolism and levels of copper provided comparisons with a control group of healthy individuals and/or the upper limits of normal values.
Results
Skin changes were found in 47 % of individuals. In most cases, milia-like efflorescences (57.14 %) occurred, as well as comedones (55.35 %); other symptoms occurred in a smaller number of workers. Hyperkeratosis, acanthosis of the epidermis (particularly in hair follicles), and a cellular infiltration of the corium were all found through histology. The intensity of cutaneous affections was associated with the changes in laboratory tests. Elevated triglycerides, cholesterol, and phospholipids were found in exposed workers. After a further two years, a significant increase in triglycerides was found in exposed individuals when compared with the control group. In addition, a significant increase in serum levels of copper, and total and unsaturated iron-binding capacity was detected.
Conclusions
Anamnesis showed that some people directly exposed to PCBs may develop skin changes after three months of occupational exposure. The results represent a unique snapshot of worker exposure at a given location, representing the basis for comparison with the population who grew up in the area and still live there today. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T17:36:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-35715e936fc7418eae9461d5ab98961e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1232-1966 1898-2263 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T17:36:47Z |
| publishDate | 2018-09-01 |
| publisher | Institute of Rural Health |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-35715e936fc7418eae9461d5ab98961e2022-12-22T02:37:19ZengInstitute of Rural HealthAnnals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine1232-19661898-22632018-09-0125342142710.26444/aaem/8630786307Retrospective assessment of specific effects of exposure of workers to PCBs in SlovakiaTatiana Kimáková0Zuzana Nevolná1Janka Vašková2Vladimír Bencko3Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University, Košice, SlovakiaSt. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Science, Bratislava, SlovakiaFaculty of Medicine, Department of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry and LABMED, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University, Košice, Slovakia1st Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Charles University, Prague, Czech RepublicIntroduction and objective Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been used commercially since 1929 as dielectric and insulating non-flammable substances, additives for paints, etc. In Slovakia, 60 chemical production workers highly exposed to PCBs (mainly to Delor 103) were studied with duration of exposure ranging from 3 months to 19 years. Material and methods Clinical examinations of skin, skin histology and laboratory tests concerning lipid metabolism, iron metabolism and levels of copper provided comparisons with a control group of healthy individuals and/or the upper limits of normal values. Results Skin changes were found in 47 % of individuals. In most cases, milia-like efflorescences (57.14 %) occurred, as well as comedones (55.35 %); other symptoms occurred in a smaller number of workers. Hyperkeratosis, acanthosis of the epidermis (particularly in hair follicles), and a cellular infiltration of the corium were all found through histology. The intensity of cutaneous affections was associated with the changes in laboratory tests. Elevated triglycerides, cholesterol, and phospholipids were found in exposed workers. After a further two years, a significant increase in triglycerides was found in exposed individuals when compared with the control group. In addition, a significant increase in serum levels of copper, and total and unsaturated iron-binding capacity was detected. Conclusions Anamnesis showed that some people directly exposed to PCBs may develop skin changes after three months of occupational exposure. The results represent a unique snapshot of worker exposure at a given location, representing the basis for comparison with the population who grew up in the area and still live there today.http://www.journalssystem.com/aaem/Retrospective-assessment-of-specific-effects-of-exposure-of-workers-to-PCBs-in-Slovakia,86307,0,2.htmliron metabolismlipid metabolismPCBsserum copperskin lesions |
| spellingShingle | Tatiana Kimáková Zuzana Nevolná Janka Vašková Vladimír Bencko Retrospective assessment of specific effects of exposure of workers to PCBs in Slovakia Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine iron metabolism lipid metabolism PCBs serum copper skin lesions |
| title | Retrospective assessment of specific effects of exposure of workers to PCBs in Slovakia |
| title_full | Retrospective assessment of specific effects of exposure of workers to PCBs in Slovakia |
| title_fullStr | Retrospective assessment of specific effects of exposure of workers to PCBs in Slovakia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Retrospective assessment of specific effects of exposure of workers to PCBs in Slovakia |
| title_short | Retrospective assessment of specific effects of exposure of workers to PCBs in Slovakia |
| title_sort | retrospective assessment of specific effects of exposure of workers to pcbs in slovakia |
| topic | iron metabolism lipid metabolism PCBs serum copper skin lesions |
| url | http://www.journalssystem.com/aaem/Retrospective-assessment-of-specific-effects-of-exposure-of-workers-to-PCBs-in-Slovakia,86307,0,2.html |
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