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Cross-sectional study on N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF); effects on liver and alcohol intolerance

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Abstract

Purpose

There are still concerns regarding occupational exposure to hepatotoxic DMF. This study was designed to evaluate possible liver damaging effects of DMF under current workplace conditions in synthetic fibres industries.

Methods

Among other laboratory parameters, liver function parameters (alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyltransferase), the mean corpuscular erythrocyte volume (MCV) and carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) of the workforce of two companies present at the days of study were investigated. Internal exposure to DMF was assessed via three different biomarkers [sum of N-methylformamide and N-hydroxymethyl-N-methylformamide, N-acetyl-S-(N-carbamoyl)cysteine (AMCC) and 3-methyl-5-isopropylhydantoin (MIH)]. Alcohol consumption was assessed by means of direct ethanol metabolites (ethylglucuronide and ethylsulfate).

Results

None of the tested liver enzyme activities showed a positive association with any of the three exposure markers, nor did CDT and MCV. CDT was negatively associated with AMCC and the ALP activity negatively with all three exposure markers. Changes in liver function are seen mainly in conjunction with ethanol consumption but also with increasing body weight and age. MCV was associated with smoking. Almost half of the workers stated to experience alcohol flush reaction.

Conclusion

The present study indicates that long-term exposure to DMF, which was specified by median urinary AMCC levels of 4.84 mg/g creatinine and DMF haemoglobin adduct levels of 60.5 nmol/MIH/g globin, respectively, does not result in any adverse liver effects. In contrast, these DMF exposure levels still elicit certain alcohol intolerance reactions.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the participants who took part in our study. We would also like to thank Sabine Straube, Birgit Hofmann Olga Battermann and Mirjam Seitz for their medical assistance, Elisabeth Eckert and Johannes Müller for their excellent technical assistance and Heinz-Peter Gelbke for providing helpful comments on an earlier draft. Finally, we wish to thank the Industrievereinigung Chemiefaser (IVC, Frankfurt) for research support. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors and not those of the Industrievereinigung Chemiefaser (IVC, Frankfurt).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schillerstr. 25, 91054, Erlangen, Germany

    Sonja Kilo, Thomas Göen & Hans Drexler

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  1. Sonja Kilo
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  2. Thomas Göen
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  3. Hans Drexler
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Correspondence to Sonja Kilo.

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Conflict of interest

The study was carried out with financial support from the Industrievereinigung Chemiefaser (IVC, Frankfurt). The authors declare no conflict of interest and that the evaluation of the study results was performed without influence by the funding foundations.

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Kilo, S., Göen, T. & Drexler, H. Cross-sectional study on N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF); effects on liver and alcohol intolerance. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 89, 1309–1320 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-016-1164-0

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