Clinical Manifestations in Vinyl Chloride Poisoning

Abstract

As civilization developed, man passed through the Stone Age, the Iron Age, and the Bronze Age. Now we are living in the Plastics Age.As supplies of iron, copper, lead, and other metals decrease, they are replaced mostly by plastics. The conquest of space and Mount Everest, the rapid development of industry, and the higher standard of hygiene and clothing would not have been possible without the development of the plastics industry.Plastics are obtained from salt, petroleum, wood, methane, gas, quartz, etc. Because our country possessed these raw materials, the plastics industry was developed and large plants were built.Simultaneously with the development of the plastics industry, studies for observing the health status of workers exposed to the new chemicals were initiated. There has been a rapid increase in the number of chemicals used, and we do not yet know all the adverse effects of these new chemicals. Some substances cause diseases in man which cannot be reproduced in animals, such as, arterial hypertension, Raynaud's phenomenon, scleroderma, and gastricduodenal ulcer, and unfortunately, when animals are exposed to toxic substances, they cannot describe the onset and evolution of the disease.Plastics, as finished articles, are considered generally harmless. The problem is, to what extent do the monomers or substances used in the chemical industry determine acute or chronic effects in the human organism.

Glutathione S-transferase M1 and GST T1 genetic polymorphisms and Raynaud’s phenomenon in French vinyl chloride monomer-exposed workers

“…Recently, Hirano et al suggested that glutathione conjugates of arsenic are toxic in rat heart micro-vessel endothelial cells (Hirano et al 2004). In many studies, endothelial damage has probably occurred because several studies have documented vascular injury and microvascular lesions in CVM disease (Suciu et al 1975;Fallappa et al 1982;Maricq et al 1976;Freudiger et al 1988). However, to date, no experimental endothelial toxicity of any VCM metabolites, whether conjugated or not, has been documented.…”

“…The first cases of RP were recorded in workers called autoclave cleaners, who were lowered into reactor vessels to clean polymer residues stuck to the walls manually; these were usually the highest VCMexposed jobs in PVC-polymerisation plants (Wilson 1967;Harris and Adams 1967;Veltman et al 1975;Suciu et al 1975;Maricq et al 1976;Markowitz et al 1977). However, other cases have since been described in VCM-exposed workers who had never been employed for this type of job or who had worked in less exposed workplaces (Black et al 1986;Walker 1976;Freudiger et al 1988).…”

“…VCM exposure can induce Raynaud's phenomenon (RP), characterized by episodic digital vasospasm provoked mainly by cold (Wilson et al 1967). The prevalence of RP in VCM workers ranges from 6 to 33% (Veltman et al 1975;Suciu et al 1975;Wilson et al 1967;Carpentier et al 1985).…”

“…Exposure to VCM is associated with a multisystem disorder, called VCM disease, which may include hepatic, dermal, vascular, and neurological dysfunctions (Veltman et al 1975;Suciu et al 1975). VCM exposure is toxic for the vascular endothelium, as shown by angiographic studies of hand arteries and by capillaroscopic examinations (Falappa et al 1982;Maricq et al 1976).…”

Poly(Vinyl Chloride) Processes and Products

“…Because of this difficulty, emulsion process plants tend to emit more vinyl chloride monomer to the ambient air per pound of resin produced. In Europe particularly there have been reports of worker dermatitis from surfactants and possible pneumoconiosis from resin dust inhalation in the emulsion process plants (2)(3)(4).…”