Occupational exposure tocis-1,3-dichloropropene: biological effect monitoring of kidney and liver function

Abstract

Objectives-To investigate the possible eVects of occupational exposure to the nematocide cis-1,3-dichloropropene (cis-DCP) on function of the kidney and liver in the starch potato growing region in The Netherlands. Methods-The study involved 13 commercial application workers exposed to cis-DCP for 117 days, and 22 matched control workers. The inhalatory exposure of the application workers was estimated from biological monitoring data. All workers collected urine and serum samples before, during, and after the fumigation season for monitoring of variables for kidney and liver function. Renal eVect variables were alanine aminopeptidase (AAP), N-acetyl--D-glucosaminidase (NAG), retinol binding protein (RBP), and albumin (ALB) in urine, and 2 -microglobulin ( 2 M-S) and creatinine in serum (Creat-S). Liver variables were alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), -glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin (TBIL) in serum and the urinary ratio of 6--hydroxycortisol to free cortisol ( OHC/COR). Results-The geometric mean exposure of the application workers was 2.7 mg/m 3 (8 hour time weighted average (8 hour TWA)); range 0.1-9.5 mg/m 3 . No diVerences were found between the values of the renal eVect variables or the liver variables of the exposed group and the control group, except a lower urinary ratio of OHC/COR in the exposed group. This was not considered to be related to the exposure to cis-DCP. No dose-eVect relations were found between the exposure indices and the eVect variables. Conclusions-The present study does not provide evidence that occupational exposure to cis-DCP in the starch potato growing region causes adverse eVects on the kidney or liver at 8 hour TWA exposure concentrations below 9.5 mg/m 3 (2 ppm). ; the DCP fumigants presently available, Telone-cis and Nematrap, consist of more than 95% of the more active isomer cis DCP.In rats, the major route of DCP metabolism is conjugation with glutathione, catalysed by hepatic glutathione transferase. 3 The glutathione conjugate is further metabolised into the mercapturic acid metabolite N-acetyl-S-(cis-3-chloro-2-propenyl)-L-cysteine (cis-DCP-MA). This mercapturic acid metabolite is excreted in urine and is suitable for biological monitoring purposes.1 4 This was confirmed by Brouwer et al. 5Torkelson and Oyen found nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic eVects in rats and guinea pigs exposed to 227 mg/m 3 cis-DCP or trans-DCP, in 19 7-hour exposures for a period of 28 days. 6 Slight to marked eVects on liver and kidney were found in rats and guinea pigs exposed to 50 mg/m 3 DCP, in 27 7-hour exposures for 39 days. Exposure to 14 mg/m 3 for 6 months induced "very slight cloudy swelling of the renal tubular epithelium". However, the eVects in their study were not confirmed by other assays. 7-10In a recent occupational health study, slight nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic eVects were found in application workers exposed to cis-DCP or trans-DCP. In 15 workers exposed to 0.3-9.4 mg/m 3 DCP, increased excre...

Allergic contact dermatitis due to 1,3‐dichloropropene soil fumigant

“…Irritant cutaneous effects due to contact with 1,3‐dichloropropene are well known and reported in its technical data sheet. In a review, Verplanke et al (3) showed that occupational exposure to 1,3‐dichloropropene was not associated with adverse effects on the kidney or liver. To our knowledge, no previous cases of sensitization to this nematocide have been reported.…”

1,3-Dichloropropene

“…A subsequent comprehensive study in Dutch potato field fumigation workers conducted over the whole of the fumigation season failed to observe treatment-related toxicity (Verplanke et al, 2000). Workers were exposed to a range of 0.1-9.5 mg/m 3 cis-1,3-dichlororporpene and a number of parameters were measured before, during, and following the fumigation season.…”