Haematological and spermatotoxic effects of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether in copper clad laminate factories

Objectives-To investigate the effects of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether ( EGME) on haematology and reproduction in exposed workers. Methods-53 Impregnation workers from two factories that make copper clad la minate with EGME as a solvent were recruited as the exposed group. Another group of 121 lamination workers with indirect exposure to EGME was recruite d as the control group. Environmental monitoring of concentrations of EGME in air and biological monitoring of urinary methoxyacetic acid (MAA) concen trations were performed. Venous blood was collected for routine and biochem ical analyses. Semen was collected from 14 workers exposed to EGME for sper m analysis and was compared with 13 control workers. Results-Results of haematological examination showed that the haemoglobin, packed cell volume, and red blood cell count in the male workers exposed to EGME were significantly lower than in the controls. The frequency of anaem ia in the exposed group (26.1%) was significantly higher than in the contro l group (3.2%). However, no differences were found between the female worke rs exposed and not exposed to EGME. After adjustment for sex, body mass ind ex, and duration of employment, red blood cell count was significantly nega tively associated with air concentrations of EGME, and haemoglobin, packed cell volume, and red blood cell count were significantly negatively associa ted with urinary concentrations of MAA. The pH of semen in the exposed work ers was significantly lower than in the control workers, but there were no significant differences in the sperm count or sperm morphology between the exposed and control groups. Conclusion-It can be concluded that EGME is a haematological toxin, which l eads to anaemia in the exposed workers. However, the data from this study d id not support the theory of a spermatotoxic effect of EGME.