MOLECULAR, CYTOGENETIC, AND HEMATOLOGIC EFFECTS OF ETHYLENE-OXIDE ON FEMALE HOSPITAL WORKERS

Women comprise the majority of workers exposed to ethylene oxide durin g sterilization of medical instruments and supplies. This article eval uates molecular, cytogenetic, and hematologic effects of ethylene oxid e on 68 women workers employed in nine hospitals in the United States and one hospital in Mexico. Workers were classified by three exposure categories: none (0), low (>0-32 ppm-hrs), and high (>32 ppm-hrs). Hem atologic effects were evaluated using complete blood count with differ ential, which has been questioned as a test for screening ethylene oxi de-exposed workers. A statistically significant decrease in hematocrit (n = 0.02) and hemoglobin (P = 0.03) levels, an increase in lymphocyt e percentages (P = 0.04), and a relative decrease in neutrophil percen tages (P = 0.03) with exposure were observed in US workers. The absolu te number of lymphocytes, however, showed no relationship with exposur e. No statistically significant results were seen for Mexican workers, although hematocrit decreased with exposure. An exposure-response rel ationship for the percentage for lymphocytes (positive) and neutrophil s (negative) in US subjects and for neutrophils (positive) in Mexican subjects was seen. No overall relation with exposure was observed for total number of white cells. Molecular and cytogenetic results are als o reported for the 68 women, who constitute a subgroup from a previous report. US women workers showed a statistically significant exposure- response relationship for ethylene oxide and hemoglobin adducts (P = 0 .0002) and sister chromatid exchanges (P 0.001). For micronuclei, the difference (P = 0.02) between low and high exposure was statistically significant. In Mexican workers, an exposure-response relationship was observed (P = 0.002) for hemoglobin adducts but not for sister chroma tid exchanges or micronuclei.