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J Hazard Mater

Title:		Exposure to volatile organic compounds and kidney dysfunction in thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) workers
Author(s):		Chang TY; Huang KH; Liu CS; Shie RH; Chao KP; Hsu WH; Bao BY;
Address:		"Department of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 40402, Taiwan, ROC. tychang@mail.cmu.edu.tw"
Journal Title:		J Hazard Mater
Year:		2010
Volume:		20100218
Issue:		1-Mar
Page Number:		934 - 940
DOI:		10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.02.027
ISSN/ISBN:		1873-3336 (Electronic) 0304-3894 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted during the manufacturing of thin film transistor liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCDs), exposure to some of which has been reported to be associated with kidney dysfunction, but whether such an effect exists in TFT-LCD industry workers is unknown. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between exposure to VOCs and kidney dysfunction among TFT-LCD workers. The results showed that ethanol (1811.0+/-1740.4 ppb), acetone (669.0+/-561.0 ppb), isopropyl alcohol (187.0+/-205.3 ppb) and propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA) (102.9+/-102.0 ppb) were the four dominant VOCs present in the workplace. The 63 array workers studied had a risk of kidney dysfunction 3.21-fold and 3.84-fold that of 61 cell workers and 18 module workers, respectively. Workers cumulatively exposed to a total level of isopropyl alcohol, PGMEA and propylene glycol monomethyl ether> or =324 ppb-year had a significantly higher risk of kidney dysfunction (adjusted OR=3.41, 95% CI=1.14-10.17) compared with those exposed to <25 ppb-year after adjustment for potential confounding factors. These findings indicated that array workers might be the group at greatest risk of kidney dysfunction within the TFT-LCD industry, and cumulative exposure to specific VOCs might be associated with kidney dysfunction"
Keywords:		Adult Age Factors Creatinine/blood Cross-Sectional Studies *Electronics Female Humans Kidney Diseases/*chemically induced/*epidemiology Kidney Function Tests *Liquid Crystals Logistic Models Male *Microcomputers Occupational Exposure/*adverse effects/*ana;
Notes:		"MedlineChang, Ta-Yuan Huang, Kuei-Hung Liu, Chiu-Shong Shie, Ruei-Hao Chao, Keh-Ping Hsu, Wen-Hsin Bao, Bo-Ying eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Netherlands 2010/03/17 J Hazard Mater. 2010 Jun 15; 178(1-3):934-40. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.02.027. Epub 2010 Feb 18"