Clinical Evaluation of Liver Structure and Function in Humans Exposed to Halogenated Hydrocarbons

An unresolved question is whether humans exposed to comparatively low doses of persistent environmental chemicals such as polyhalogenated biphenyls or organochlorine pesticides are at risk for injury to the liver. Cross-sectional epidemiologic studies suggest that these chemicals may produce statist...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental health perspectives Vol. 60; pp. 159 - 164
Main Author: Guzelian, Philip S.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. National Institutes of Health. Department of Health, Education and Welfare 01.05.1985
Subjects:
Biologic Indicators of Human Toxicity
Biopsies
Chemical hazards
Chlordecone - adverse effects
DDT - adverse effects
Environmental Exposure
Enzyme Induction - drug effects
Enzymes
Excretion
gamma-Glutamyltransferase - analysis
Gene induction
Humans
Hydrocarbons, Halogenated - adverse effects
Liver
Liver - drug effects
Liver - pathology
Liver diseases
Metabolism
Pesticides
Polychlorinated biphenyls
Polychlorinated Biphenyls - adverse effects
ISSN:0091-6765, 1552-9924
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:An unresolved question is whether humans exposed to comparatively low doses of persistent environmental chemicals such as polyhalogenated biphenyls or organochlorine pesticides are at risk for injury to the liver. Cross-sectional epidemiologic studies suggest that these chemicals may produce statistically significant but clinically mild abnormalities in the commonly employed chemical tests of liver function. The few reports of human liver morphology reveal nonspecific changes reflecting effects of lipophilic chemicals. There is evidence that chemicals of this category in at least some doses cause induction of liver microsomal enzymes involved in biotransformation of foreign substances. This finding has been documented by measurements of the clearance of model drugs or the appearance in the urine of steroid metabolites or glucaric acid. Although a positive statistical correlation between the concentrations of these chemicals in serum and the serum γ-glutamyltranspeptidase activity has been reported, the nonspecificity of the latter enzyme precludes conclusion that this change is indicative of induction of liver microsomal enzymes. Although the effects of this type of environmental chemical are not indicative of progressive liver disease, only prospective clinical trials can resolve the issue of the risk for future development of liver malignancy.
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ISSN:0091-6765
1552-9924
DOI:10.1289/ehp.8560159