Abstract:
Objective To screen potential effect biomarkers for vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) exposure by understanding oxidative injury induced by VCM.
Methods A group of 359 workers occupationally exposed to VCM were selected as the exposed group, and 158 workers without VCM exposure were selected as the control group. Activities of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione S-transferase (GST) were determined.
Results The results of multiple linear regression showed that the serum SOD activity of the VCM-exposed groups (three dose levels) decreased significantly compared with the control group (P<0.001), and the activity of MDA increased (P<0.001). The GST activities in the low and high exposure groups were significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). The results of Chi-square test showed a dose-response relationship between the serum levels of SOD/GST and the cumulative exposure dose of VCM.
Conclusion The oxidative hazard of VCM exposure is obviouse under the current VCM exposure level. The activities of serum SOD, MDA, and GST could be used as effect biomarkers for VCM exposure assessment.