Resumen

RODRIGUEZ, Maritza; SQUILLANTE, Guido  y  ROJAS, Maritza. Exposición ocupacional a solventes orgánicos en una fábrica de calzado en Valencia, Venezuela, 2001. Gac Méd Caracas [online]. 2003, vol.111, n.4, pp.294-301. ISSN 0367-4762.

Potential health effects of organic solvents exposure were assessed. Thirty six workers of shoe manufacturer located in Valencia, Venezuela, were studied. They had a medical exam, and an occupational history. Biological indicators of exposure (toluene in blood; methylethyketone, methylisobuthylketone, acetone and hippuric acid in urine) and effect (creatinine in urine, hematologic analyses, bilirubin, transaminases and alkaline phoshatase-AP) were performed. Average toluene in blood (0.16 mg/L), was significantly higher (P< 0.01), than the permissible level established by the US-American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), which is 0.05 mg/L. Remaining parameters resulted with permissible level. Average of eosinophiles 4.2 % (Reference Value-RV: 4 %) and lymphocytes, 37.6 % (RV: 23 %-35 %). Although these mean levels were higher than RVs, their difference was no significant. We observe a significant increase (P< 0.05) of direct bilirubin values (0.23 mg/dL), compared with RVs (0.2 mg/dL). No significant association was found between mean levels of toluene in blood (T-B) and more reported symptoms (fatigue, weight loss, dizziness and headaches), but there was a direct relationship between T-B and AP (r: 0.348 P< 0.05). Regarding workers that use glues (n = 19), we observed a higher prevalence of fatigue and headaches and fatigue in women, compared with men.

Palabras clave : Organic solvents; Biological monitoring.; Glues.