Hematological changes in hospital workers due to chronic exposure to low levels of ethylene oxide

We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine whether occupational expo sure to lour levels of ethylene oxide can cause hematological abnormalities . Blood samples were collected from a group of 47 hospital workers who were exposed to ethylene oxide during a mean period of 6.6 years (standard erro r; 1.1). Ethylene oxide range levels measured were <0.01 to 0.06 ppm. The c ontrol group, individually matched by age, sex, and smoking habits, consist ed of 88 workers from the administrative sector. We found significant diffe rences between the exposed and the control group in the frequency of worker s with white blood cells lower than the normal range. Although there was no significant difference in the absolute mean number of the total white bloo d cells, we found an elevation in the absolute mean number of monocytes and eosinophils (P < 0.01) and a decrease (P < 0.01) in the absolute mean numb er of lymphocytes in the exposed group compared with the control group. We also found an elevation (P < 0.01) in the percentage of hematocrit and the mean absolute number of the red blood cells, and a decrease CP < 0.01) in t he mean absolute number of platelets, in the exposed group compared with th e control group. The mean absolute number of eosinophils, red blood cells, and percentage of hematocrit was significantly higher, and the mean absolut e number of lymphocytes and platelets was significantly lower, in the subgr oups with a higher cumulative dose of exposure. A positive dose-response wa s found between cumulative dose exposure and the absolute mean number of eo sinophils. In view of our findings, we suggest that the use of complete blo od cells with differential in routine medical surveillance and for early de tection of hygiene problems should be reexamined with special attention to the eosinophils count.