Top

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

Published in:

Open Access 01-04-2021 | Biomarkers | Original Article

Blood plasma levels of biomarkers of liver status and lipid profile among nail technicians occupationally exposed to low-level mixture of volatile organic compounds

Authors: Peter Grešner, Magdalena Beata Król, Radosław Świercz, Jolanta Gromadzińska

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 3/2021

Abstract

Purpose

Nail technicians (NTs) are exposed to a low-level mixture of volatile organic solvents (VOCs), yet the health hazards related to such exposure are unknown. This study thus aimed to compare the blood plasma levels of selected biomarkers related to liver status and lipid profile among occupationally exposed NTs and unexposed controls. Associations between out-of-normal-range levels of such biomarkers and occupational exposure to VOCs mixture have also been investigated.

Methods

The study enrolled 145 female NTs and 152 unexposed controls. Biochemical analyses were performed using spectrophotometric assays and obtained data were analyzed using general linear model and Poisson regression modelling adjusted to multiple confounders.

Results

Compared to controls, NTs presented significantly increased plasma activities of ALT (2.04 ± 0.63 ln-U/l vs. 1.25 ± 0.71 ln-U/l; p < 0.0001) and AST (2.73 ± 0.25 ln-U/l vs. 2.08 ± 0.95 ln-U/l; p < 0.0001), and significantly increased plasma levels of TG (4.38 ± 0.53 ln-mg/dl vs. 4.21 ± 0.42 ln-mg/dl; p < 0.05) and TC/HDL ratio (1.18 ± 0.36 vs. 1.02 ± 0.27; p < 0.0005). Plasma levels of HDL were significantly lower among NTs (4.02 ± 0.29 ln-mg/dl vs. 4.21 ± 0.26 ln-mg/dl; p < 0.0001). Moreover, NTs were found to present significantly increased risk of occurrence of clinically relevant plasma HDL levels below 3.91 ln-mg/dl (i.e., 50 mg/dl; RR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.07–2.32, p < 0.05), as well as increased risk of clinically relevant TC/HDL ratio above the normal range limit of 3.5 (RR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.19–2.35, p < 0.005), as compared to unexposed controls.

Conclusion

Nail technicians are subject to adverse changes in selected plasma biomarkers related to liver functions, some of which may be of clinical relevance.

Anses (2017) ANSES OPINION on the risk assessment of occupational exposure to products used for nail care and decoration

Artiss J, Zak B (1997) Measurement of cholesterol concentration. In: Rifai N, Warnick GR (eds) Handbook of lipoprotein testing. AACC Press, Washington, pp 99–114

Attarchi MS, Aminian O, Dolati M, Mazaheri M (2007) Evaluation of liver enzyme levels in workers exposed to vinyl chloride vapors in a petrochemical complex: a cross-sectional study. J Occup Med Toxicol 2:6–11

Bachorik P (1997) Measurement of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In: Rifai N, Warnick G, Dominiczak M (eds) Handbook of lipoprotein testing. AACC Press, Wshington, pp 145–160

Brautbar N, Williams J (2002) Industrial solvents and liver toxicity: risk assessment, risk factors and mechanisms. Int J Hyg Environ Health 205:479–491

Brodkin CA, Willson RA, Moon JD et al (2001) Serum hepatic biochemical activity in two populations of workers exposed to styrene. Occup Environ Med 58:95–102

Ceballos DM, Craig J, Fu X et al (2019) Biological and environmental exposure monitoring of volatile organic compounds among nail technicians in the Greater Boston area. Indoor Air 29:539–550

Craig J, Ceballos DM, Fruh V et al (2019) Exposure of nail salon workers to phthalates, di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate, and organophosphate esters: a pilot study. Environ Sci Technol 53(24):14630–14637

Gjolstad M, Thorud S, Molander P (2006) Occupational exposure to airborne solvents during nail sculpturing. J Environ Monit 8:537–542

Grešner P, Stępnik M, Król MB et al (2015) Dysregulation of markers of oxidative stress and DNA damage among nail technicians despite low exposure to volatile organic compounds. Scand J Work Environ Health 41(6):579–593

Grešner P, Świercz R, Król MB et al (2016) Does the low-level occupational exposure to volatile organic compounds alter the seasonal variation of selected markers of oxidative stress? A case-control study in nail technicians. J Occup Med Toxicol 11:36–46

Grešner P, Świercz R, Wasowicz W, Gromadzińska J (2017) Faster health deterioration among nail technicians occupationally exposed to low levels of volatile organic compounds. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 30(3):463–483

Hadei M, Hopke PK, Shahsavani A et al (2018) Indoor concentrations of VOCs in beauty salons; Association with cosmetic practices and health risk assessment. J Occup Med Toxicol 13:30–38

Harris-Roberts J, Bowen J, Sumner J et al (2011) Work-related symptoms in nail salon technicians. Occup Med 61:335–340

Karmen AJ, Wroblewski F, Ladue JS (1955) Transaminase activity in human blood. J Clin Investig 34(1):126–131

Kaukiainen A, Vehmas T, Rantala K et al (2004) Results of common laboratory tests in solvent-exposed workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 77:39–46

Kim HR, Han MA (2018) Association between serum liver enzymes and metabolic syndrome in Korean adults. Int J Environ Res Public Health 15(8):1658–1666

Ko SH, Baeg MK, Do HK et al (2015) Increased liver markers are associated with higher risk of type 2 diabetes. World J Gastroenterol 21:7478–7487

Lamplugh A, Harries M, Xiang F et al (2019) Occupational exposure to volatile organic compounds and health risks in Colorado nail salons. Environ Pollut 249:518–526

Lazarov A (2007) Sensitization to acrylates is a common adverse reaction to artificial fingernails. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 21:169–174

Liu J, Drane W, Liu X, Wu T (2009) Examination of the relationships between environmental exposures to volatile organic compounds and biochemical liver tests: application of canonical correlation analysis. Environ Res 109:193–199

Malaguarnera G, Cataudella E, Giordano M et al (2012) Toxic hepatitis in occupational exposure to solvents. World J Gastroenterol 18:2756–2766

McDonald C, Checkoway H (2000) Methodology: 18 study design. In: McDonald C (ed) Epidemiology of work related diseases. BMJ Books, London, p 385

McGowan MW, Artiss JD, Strandbergh DR, Zak B (1983) A peroxidase-coupled method for the colorimetric determination of serum triglycerides. Clin Chem 29:538–542

Mechilli M, Schinoppi A, Kobos K et al (2008) DNA repair deficiency and acetaldehyde-induced chromosomal alterations in CHO cells. Mutagenesis 23:51–56

Mohammadi S, Mehrparvar A, Labbafinejad Y, Attarchi MS (2010) The effect of exposure to a mixture of organic solvents on liver enzymes in an auto manufacturing plant. J Public Health 18:553–557

Moradi M, Hopke P, Hadei M et al (2019) Exposure to BTEX in beauty salons: biomonitoring, urinary excretion, clinical symptoms, and health risk assessments. Environ Monit Assess 191:286–295

Music M, Dervisevic A, Pepic E et al (2015) Metabolic syndrome and serum liver enzymes level at patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Med Arch 69:251–255

Pak VM, Powers M, Liu J (2013) Occupational chemical exposures among cosmetologists: risk of reproductive disorders. Workplace Health Saf 61:522–528

Park S-AA, Gwak S, Choi S (2014) Assessment of occupational symptoms and chemical exposures for nail salon technicians in Daegu city, Korea. J Prev Med Public Health 47:169–176

Quach T, Nguyen K-D, Doan-Billings P-A et al (2008) A preliminary survey of Vietnamese nail salon workers in Alameda County, California. J Community Health 33:336–343

Quach T, Gunier R, Tran A et al (2011) Characterizing workplace exposures in Vietnamese women working in California nail salons. Am J Public Health 101:S271–S276

Reutman SR, Rohs AM, Clark JC et al (2009) A pilot respiratory health assessment of nail technicians: symptoms. Lung Funct Airw Inflamm 875:868–875

Roelofs C, Do T (2012) Exposure assessment in nail salons: an indoor air approach. ISRN Public Health 2012:1–7

Roelofs C, Azaroff LS, Holcroft C et al (2008) Results from a community-based occupational health survey of Vietnamese-American nail salon workers. J Immigr Minor Health 10:353–361

Salehpour S, Amani R, Nili-Ahmadabadi A (2019) Volatile organic compounds as a preventive health challenge in the petrochemical industries. Int J Prev Med 10:194

Schoenborn CA, Adams PF (2013) Health behaviors of adults: United States, 2008–2010. Vital Health Stat 10(257):1–184

Trinder P (1969) Determination of blood glucose using an oxidase-peroxidase system with a non-carcinogenic chromogen. J Clin Pathol 22:158–161

van der Net JB, Janssens ACJW, Eijkemans MJC et al (2008) Cox proportional hazards models have more statistical power than logistic regression models in cross-sectional genetic association studies. Eur J Hum Genet 16:1111–1116

Wróblewski F, LaDue JS (1956) Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase in cardiac with hepatic disease. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 91(4):569–571

Xiao H (2002) Method and composition for determining high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Chinese Pat CN 1379235A

Yoon HI, Hong Y-C, Cho S-H et al (2010) Exposure to volatile organic compounds and loss of pulmonary function in the elderly. Eur Respir J 36:1270–1276

Zhong L, Batterman S, Milando CW (2019) VOC sources and exposures in nail salons: a pilot study in Michigan, USA. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 92:141–153

Title: Blood plasma levels of biomarkers of liver status and lipid profile among nail technicians occupationally exposed to low-level mixture of volatile organic compounds
Authors: Peter Grešner
Magdalena Beata Król
Radosław Świercz
Jolanta Gromadzińska
Publication date: 01-04-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keyword: Biomarkers
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 3/2021
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-020-01599-2

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Blood plasma levels of biomarkers of liver status and lipid profile among nail technicians occupationally exposed to low-level mixture of volatile organic compounds

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 3/2021

Does acute stress disorder predict posttraumatic stress disorder following workplace violence? A prospective study of psychiatric staff

Monitoring heat strain: the effect of sensor type and location on single-site and mean skin temperature during work in the heat

Work limitations due to neck-shoulder pain and physical work demands in older workers: cross-sectional study

Whole body vibration influence on bus fare collectors evaluated by using a brain training mobile app

Are US adults with low-exposure to methylmercury at increased risk for depression? A study based on 2011–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES)

Labour market affiliation among non-bullied colleagues at work units with reported bullying