US EPA

1469412 

Journal Article 

Polychlorinated naphthalene exposures and liver function changes 

Popp, W; Norpoth, K; Vahrenholz, C; Hamm, S; Balfanz, E; Theisen, J 

1997 

Yes 

American Journal of Industrial Medicine
ISSN: 0271-3586
EISSN: 1097-0274 

32 

4 

413-416 

English 

9258396 

10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199710)32:4<413::Aid-ajim13>3.0.Co;2-6 

WOS:A1997XP45500013 

An assessment of liver damage to 16 workers exposed to wax fumes that contained polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) was performed. All of the workers were employed in a German factory producing models and tools for car manufacturing and mining. They were modelmakers and their main task was checking casting molds. Exposure to PCN was direct with no protection for workers and through the use of Beranit and Nibren (1321659) waxes. Close exposure was for approximately 1 to 2 hours per day, but background exposure within the same room was throughout the day. In most cases PCN exposure was from 1958 to when the factory was closed in 1989. Exposures to solvents, cutting fluids, and epoxy resins was low. Estimates of the exposure to emissions of halogenated compounds from wax fumes were calculated. For an emission of 1 hour, PCN exposures, which were the most significant, were 14.5 milligrams/cubic centimeter. Liver dysfunction was found in six of the 16 workers examined with elevated liver enzyme values (for example, raised gamma-glutamyltransferase), and many subjects had fatty livers. The authors conclude that PCN causes liver damage, but that the potential for damage does not seem to be very high. The development of liver disease was not necessarily associated with the occurrence of chloracne. 

polychlorinated naphthalene; PCN; liver function changes