Study of some hepatic effects (induction and toxicity) caused by occupational exposure to styrene in the polyester industry.

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Abstract
An occupational health survey was carried out in the polyester industry to investigate hepatic effects of exposure to styrene. Workers (57) underwent a medical examination. They were submitted to blood and urine sampling for determination of degree of exposure by: analysis of urinary mandelic and phenylglyoxylic acids (styrene metabolites), intensity of induction and/or hepatic effects, and analysis of urinary glucaric acid and plasma enzyme activities (.gamma.-glutamyl transferase, ornithine carbamoyl transferase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase). Styrene did not give rise to measurable autoinduction. Exposure to styrene caused an increase in plasma enzyme activities, a phenomenon illustrating a possible damaging effect on liver cells. This effect appeared with exposure below 100 ppm (time-weighted average).

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