Page 344 - Industrial Ventilation Design Guidebook

300 CHAPTER 5 PHYSIOLOGICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

TABLE 5.14 Chemical Compounds that Induce Chronic Liver Damage

Chemical compound Cirrhosis Cancer*

Natural Compounds
Aflatoxin'** x x
Ethanol** x •)
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids ? X
Saffrole ? X

Synthetic Compounds
Anabolic androgens** — X
Diaikylnitroamines ? X
Organochlorine pesticides ? X
Polychlorinated hydrocarbons ? X
Carbon tetrachloride x X
Chloroform ? X
Vinyl chloride** ? X
Dimethylaminobenzene ? X
Acetylaminofluorene ? X
Thioacetarnide ? X
Urethane ? X
Ethiomine ? X
Dimethylbenzanthrazene ? X
Galactosamine ? X
" In experimental animals
* * Is also a human carcinogen
? Unknown
— Does not cause any effect
Source: Modified from Savolainen and Vahakangas. 151

Chronic Liver Damage Cirrhosis is one the main forms of chronic
liver damage. Formation of a collagen network that destroys the typical
liver structure is characteristic of cirrhosis. In cirrhosis, the blood circula-
tion to the liver is severely disturbed because of altered liver morphology.
The underlying mechanism of this disruption is most likely necrosis of in-
dividual hepatocytes leading to scar formation. The same compounds that
induce liver cancer also induce liver cirrhosis. In humans, the most impor-
tant compound causing liver cirrhosis is ethyl alcohol. 149 150 Table 5.14
'
lists chemical compounds that can induce acute liver damage.
Liver cancer can also be a consequence of exposure to hepatotoxic chemi-
cals. Natural hepatocarcinogens include fungal aflatoxins. Synthetic hepato-
carcinogens include nitrosoamines, certain chlorinated hydrocarbons,
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, dimethyl-
benzanthracene, and vinyl chloride. 150 Table 5.15 lists the chemical com-
pounds that induce liver cancer or cirrhosis in experimental animals or