Cong Qi1, Yiyang Gu, Qing Sun, Hongliang Gu, Bo Xu, Qing Gu, Jing Xiao, Yulong Lian. 1. Division of Occupational and Environment Health, College of Public Health, Nantong (Ms Qi, Ms Gu, Ms Sun, Dr Xiao, Dr Lian); and Division of Tai cang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Tai cang, Suzhou (Mr Gu, Mr Xu, Ms Gu), Jiangsu, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We assessed the risk of liver injuries following low doses of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) below threshold limit values (20 mg/m) among leather industry workers and comparison groups. METHODS: A cohort of 429 workers from a leather factory and 466 non-exposed subjects in China were followed for 4 years. Poisson regression and piece-wise linear regression were used to examine the relationship between DMF and liver injury. RESULTS: Workers exposed to a cumulative dose of DMF were significantly more likely than non-exposed workers to develop liver injury. A nonlinear relationship between DMF and liver injury was observed, and a threshold of the cumulative DMF dose for liver injury was 7.30 (mg/m) year. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate the importance of taking action to reduce DMF occupational exposure limits for promoting worker health.
OBJECTIVE: We assessed the risk of liver injuries following low doses of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) below threshold limit values (20 mg/m) among leather industry workers and comparison groups. METHODS: A cohort of 429 workers from a leather factory and 466 non-exposed subjects in China were followed for 4 years. Poisson regression and piece-wise linear regression were used to examine the relationship between DMF and liver injury. RESULTS: Workers exposed to a cumulative dose of DMF were significantly more likely than non-exposed workers to develop liver injury. A nonlinear relationship between DMF and liver injury was observed, and a threshold of the cumulative DMF dose for liver injury was 7.30 (mg/m) year. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate the importance of taking action to reduce DMF occupational exposure limits for promoting worker health.