Page 345 - Industrial Ventilation Design Guidebook

S.3 TOXiCiTY AND RISKS INDUCED BY OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS 30 i

TABLE 5.15 Chemical Compounds that Induce Acute Liver Damage

Chemical compound Necrosis Steatosis

Natural Compounds
Aflatoxin** X X
Ethanol* * — X
Pyrrol izidine alkaloids X X
Saffrole p ?

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

humans. Humans are exposed to aflatoxins in hot and humid regions in Africa
and Asia where peanuts and grain have to be stored in inappropriate condi-
tions which favor the growth of fungi. In these regions, hepatitis is also com-
mon, and these two factors may, in fact, act synergistically to promote the
5 150
formation of liver cancer. ' Historically, workers involved in the production
of polyvinylchloride (PVC) polymers (plastics, elastomers) were exposed to
high concentrations of vinyl chloride. In these workers, the incidence of liver
angiosarcoma increased dramatically, and the incidence of brain tumors has
36
also been reported to be higher than the incidence in control workers. Ethyl
alcohol can increase the risk of liver carcinoma. It is not primarily considered a
very potent liver carcinogen, but nonetheless is important because the doses of
ethyl alcohol to which hurnans are exposed are so high.
Kidney Toxicity
The integrity of mammalian kidneys is vital to body homeostasis, because
the kidneys play the principal role in the excretion of metabolic wastes and the
regulation of extracellular fluid volume, electrolyte balance, and acid-base