Ann Occup Environ Med.  2017 ;29(1):54. 10.1186/s40557-017-0210-z.

Reticulocytosis in screen-printing workers exposed to 2-butoxyethanol and 2-ethoxyethanol

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, 21, Namdongdaero774 beon-gil, Nadong-gu, Incheon, 21565 Republic of Korea. sk.kang@gachon.ac.kr.

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Studies on the hematologic toxicity of ethylene glycol ethers in humans are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the association between exposure to solvents (containing 2-butoxyethanol and 2-ethoxyethanol) and hematological effects.
METHODS
Thirty-four screen-printing workers who were exposed to 2-butoxyethanol and 2-ethoxyethanol and 37 non-exposed clerical workers were selected using data from the health care facilities that provided regular health screening services. Student's t-tests and Pearson's chi-square tests were used to compare differences in hematological parameters between the exposed and the control groups. A multivariate analysis was performed using the multiple logistic regression models to adjust for other variables.
RESULTS
The chi-square test showed the reticulocyte percentages and corrected reticulocyte counts to be significantly higher in the exposed group. The t-tests showed a significant increase in white blood cell counts, reticulocyte percentages, and corrected reticulocyte count (i.e., reticulocyte index) in the exposed group, with p-values of 0.002, 0.004, and 0.002, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed the odds ratio for the corrected reticulocyte counts to be 16.30 for the exposed group, when compared with that of the control group.
CONCLUSIONS
Exposure to 2-butoxyethanol and 2-ethoxyethanol was significantly associated with reticulocytosis, necessitating the implementation of preventive measures for workers prone to occupational exposure to ethylene glycol ethers.

Keyword

2-Butoxyethanol; 2-Ethoxyethanol; Ethylene glycol ethers; Reticulocytosis

MeSH Terms

Clergy
Delivery of Health Care
Ether
Ethers
Ethylene Glycol
Humans
Leukocyte Count
Logistic Models
Mass Screening
Multivariate Analysis
Occupational Exposure
Odds Ratio
Reticulocyte Count
Reticulocytes
Reticulocytosis*
Solvents
Ether
Ethers
Ethylene Glycol
Solvents
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