ObjectiveTo investigate the health effects on practitioners occupationally exposed to acrylonitrile and to provide scientific bases for the study of toxicological effects of acrylonitrile on human bodies.

Methods465 medical practitioners exposed to acrylonitrile and (a control group of) 488 medical practitioners unexposed to acrylonitrile were selected. Age, smoking habits, alcoholic habits and other relevant factors are well-considered in selecting these two groups and all of them had lived in Ningbo for at least three years. Blood samples were collected to measure the level of Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), pancreatic acyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin (STB), blood urea (UREA), blood uric acid (UA), serum creatinine (SCr), total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), globulin (Glb), ratio of Alb to Glb (A/G), white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), platelet (PLT) and hemoglobin (Hb). These serum biochemical indices of the two groups were compared to find the differences thereof and to examine the effect of work years on various above-mentioned indices for medical practitioners exposed to acrylonitrile.

ResultsThe levels of ALT(t=-2.77, P=0.006), AST(t=-5.74, P < 0.001), UREA(t=3.51, P < 0.001), UA(t=-3.51, P < 0.001)and SCr(t=-7.62, P < 0.001)for medical practitioners exposed to acrylonitrile were all significantly higher than those for the control group; however, the levels of ALP(t=18.87, P < 0.001), Alb(t=6.92, P < 0.001), Glb(t=7.99, P < 0.001), A/G(t=11.93, P < 0.001), and WBC(t=4.48, P < 0.001)were all lower than those for the control group, with the exposure time exhibiting positive correlations with ALT(r=0.564, P < 0.001)and AST(r=0.493, P < 0.001).

ConclusionAcrylonitrile has certain health effects on the hepatorenal function as well as the routine blood test results of medical practitioners occupationally exposed to acrylonitrile.