Liver function test among workers in Petrochemical and Fertilizers production Factory in Basrah, Iraq

Abstract

Objective : A study was conduct to determine whether hepatic function changes in workers occupationally exposed to mixture of agents , were due to the exposure or confusing .Methods: a total of 311 workers of petrochemical industry and fertilizer production factory in Basrah city . Their mean age 39+6 years , and at least one year of exposure to organic agent . This sample was compared with a group of 154 non industrial control subjects, with a mean age 39+5.7 years and similar anthropometric characteristics . serum samples were obtained to determine the activities of aspirate amino transferase (AST) , alanine amino transferase (ALT) , alkaline phosphatase (AP) and total serum bilirubin (S.BIL ) . Results : there were significant elevation in the activities of AP, AST, ALT and the level of total S.BIL . among industrial workers whose age > 40 years compared to those younger than 40 years ( P < 0.05 ) and to non- industrial control subjects ( P < 0.05 ) . The values of all above parameters studied were significantly elevated with increasing the period of exposure in both factories as compared to the control group ( P < 0.05 ) .Conclusion : On the basis of this study , it can be concluded that a substantial difference in these enzymes and total S.BIL between exposed and non-exposed was fund. These results might be related to organic agent exposure and might have effect liver .