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Subclinical affection of liver and kidney function and solvent exposure

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Summary

The role of solvents as hepato- and nephrotoxic agents under present-day exposure levels is still unclear. The purpose of this study involving 99 metal degreasers was to examine dose-response relationships between long-term exposure of mainly trichloroethylene and a battery of liver function tests and one nephrotubular enzyme test. Serum γ-glutamyltransferase and urinary N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase were elevated by increasing solvent exposure at bivariate level. The significance of this relationship, however, was not able to withstand a multiple regression analysis, with age and alcohol abuse as confounding variables. The conclusion is that of a nonsignificant association between solvent exposure and tests screening for early liver and kidney dysfunction.

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Rasmussen, K., Brogren, CH. & Sabroe, S. Subclinical affection of liver and kidney function and solvent exposure. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 64, 445–448 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00517951

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00517951

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