Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


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8189491 
Meetings & Symposia 
Hepatotoxicity of rubber vulcanization fumes in rats 
Rydzynski, K; Opalska, B; Czerczak, S; Stetkiewicz, J 
1990 
Publ by San Francisco Press Inc 
San Francisco, CA, United States 
439-441 
English 
Epidemiological studies identified the presence of many hazards in the working environment of the rubber industry. Rubber vulcanization fumes are one of the hazardous agents that occur in the workplace atmosphere in the rubber factories. Vulcanization processes generate a whole spectrum of vapors and gases, which contain, among others, benzene, trichloroethylene, benzo[a]pyrene, and nitrozamines. The mutagenic activity of airborne particulate material and of several rubber additives and vulcanization fumes was demonstrated. Moreover, a higher prevalence of lung cancer and chronic bronchitis was detected among rubber industry workers. In guinea pigs exposed to rubber vulcanization fumes parenchymal infiltrations with inflammatory cells and increased numbers of mast cells were observed in the lungs. Dermatological effects resulting from exposure to rubber and/or rubber chemicals are also documented. However, little is known about effects on the liver of combined exposure to the mixture of gases, fumes, and particulates emitted in the vulcanization processes. The present study has been aimed at the evaluation of potential hepatotoxic effects of acute and subchronic inhalatory exposures in rats. We have shown that short exposure to rubber vulcanization fumes at high concentrations induced reversible liver steatosis. Subchronic 28-day exposure to the fumes at lower concentration led to hepatotoxic effect concerning mainly mitochondria and peroxisomes. 
Ingram Peter