Analysis of Liver Index of Workers Exposed to Glyphosate

Objective To study the liver index of workers with occupational glyphosate exposure.

Methods Occupational health situation in four glyphosate plants selected by cluster sampling method was investigated. The concentration of glyphosate in the workplace air was determined. Workers from glyphosate production line were recruited as the exposed group (n=345) and those without pesticide production and other occupational hazards as the control group (n=345). All the participants underwent questionnaire survey and took a health examination at the same time.

Results The average concentrations of glyphosate in the drying and packing positions were relatively high and up to 94.59 mg/m³ and 20.68-26.43 mg/m³, separately. Compared with the control group (4.3%, 7.8%, and 6.1%), the abnormal rates of cholinesterase (ChE), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and total bilirubin (TBIL) in the exposed group (10.4%, 12.5%, and 11.9%) significantly increased (P=0.002, P=0.044, P=0.008). In the glyphosate exposed workers, those with higher seniority (39.6%) presented a higher abnormal rate of liver conditions by B-mode ultrasonography than those with lower seniority (27.0%) (P=0.014). The abnormal rates of liver condition by B-mode ultrasonography and ALT in the male workers (36.5% and 16.6%) were significantly higher than those in the female workers (23.1% and 2.9%) (P=0.014, P=0.000). In contrast, the abnormal rate of ChE in the female workers (19.2%) was significantly higher than that in the male workers (6.6%) (P=0.000).

Conclusion The present investigation suggests that occupational glyphosate exposure may in jure workers' livers.