유기용제 폭로가 여성 근로자들의 월경에 미치는 영향 = Effects of Organic Solvents on the Menstrual Function of Female Workers

국문 초록 (Abstract)

유기용제는 산업장에서 널리 사용되고 있다. 특히 여성근로자들의 폭로기회가 증가하고 있으며 이로 인한 자연유산, 수태능력 감소, 월경이상 등이 보고되고 있다. 따라서 유기용제 폭로가 여성근로자들의 월경에 미치는 영향을 보기 위해 설문조사와 월경주기별 여성생식 호르몬(progesterone, estrogen) 분석을 하였다. 그 결과 폭로군에서 progeterone의 억제효과가 유기용제에 폭로되는 여성근로자들의 다양한 월경이상을 초래할 가능성이 있는 것으로 생각된다.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

■ Objectives This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of menstrual function in female workers exposed to organic solvents.
■ Methods Rates of menstrual disorders were studied in 87 female workers with exposure to organic solvents(Cn/Hn-value 0.713) in a factory manufacturing shoes and compared with 83 general female workers who had no exposure to organic solvents, Detailed menstrual and reproductive histories were obtained by personal interview using structured questionnaire, and plasma concentrations of progesterone and estrogen were assayed by radioimmunoassay(RIA).
■ Results The rates for menstrual irregularity, menstrual duration, blood clot in menstrual flow and dysmenorrhea were not significantly different in both groups. Number of using menstrual pad was significantly higher and the plasma level of progesterone during 6-11th day of menstrual cycle was significantly lower in the exposed group compared with non-exposed group(P<0.05).
■ Conclusions It seemed to be suppression effect of organic solvents on the reproductive hormones(progesterone and estrogen) in female workers. But there was no evidence that menstrual disorder was likely to result from exposure to organic solvents, because other behavioral, psychological and work related factors may also affect menstrual function.