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worker consumed more than a very low level of alcohol. Subjects wereidentified during screening of serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase,gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase andglutamic pyruvic transaminase. Six workers complained of nausea,dizziness, loss of weight and/or loss of appetite. Two workers withhyperbilirubinemia only were confirmed to have Gilbert's syndrome, andelevated bilirubin persisted after removal from exposure. One worker withelevated glutamic pyruvic transaminase only showed a decrease on removalfrom exposure and an increase with resumption of exposure. Two workers hadtwo abnormalities and eight had three or more. Increased glutamic pyruvictransaminase was generally the earliest abnormality noted. Removal fromexposure produced improvement in liver function parameters in 83.3% ofworkers within 6 mo to 2 yr. One worker had probable alcoholic livercirrhosis rather than monomer induced liver dysfunction. Of the remaining12, eight who returned to work showed return of abnormal liver functionwithin 3 mo to 1 yr. Hepatomegaly, hepatosplenomegaly, and splenomegalywere noted in four, four, and two workers, respectively. Nine workersunderwent biopsies, which revealed mild to moderate nonspecific fattychanges. Six workers each were determined to have probable or possiblevinyl chloride monomer induced liver dysfunction. The authors concludethat continual vigilance with environmental monitoring and medicalsurveillance is necessary with vinyl chloride monomer exposure. [Ho SF etal; Journal of the Society of Occupational Medicine 41 (1): 10-6(1991)]**PEER REVIEWED**A mortality and cancer morbidity study was conducted to investigatewhether there was an increased risk for cancer among employees in thepolyvinyl chloride processing industry and whether such risks could beassociated with special chemical exposures, including exposure to vinylchloride monomer. The main products manufactured at the company includedthick film floor sheeting, floor tiles, homogenous mats, thin film, andextruded pipes. The group of workers studied included 2031 male workersemployed at this facility for at least 3 mo from 1945 through 1980. Totalmortality was almost significantly increased, and deaths by violence orintoxication were significantly increased. Deaths from ischemic heartdisease were not significantly increased. There was a significant increasein total cancer morbidity, and respiratory cancers. Liver hemangiosarcomawas not observed. No significant dose response associations were foundassociated with exposure to vinyl chloride monomer, asbestos, orplasticizers. [Hagmar L et al; American Journal of Industrial Medicine 17(5): 553-565 (1990)]**PEER REVIEWED**The effects of exposure to vinyl chloride monomer on lymphocytechromosomes were investigated using the chromosome aberration assay, themicronucleus assay, and the sister chromatid exchange method. Theinfluence of smoking on the mutagenic activity of vinyl chloride monomerwas also studied. Nineteen workers who had been employed at apolyvinyl-chloride facility for an average of 15 yr were chosen forcytogenetic examination. Workers had been exposed to a vinyl chloridemonomer concentration of 50 ppm, with periodic excursions to 2000 ppm.Twenty male subjects from the general population were used as comparisons.The values for chromosome aberrations, micronuclei and sister chromatidexchange frequencies in workers exposed to vinyl chloride monomer showstatistically significant increases over comparisons. The mean group valuefor micronuclei was 12.2% with a range of 2.1 to 26.9%. With increasingnumbers of micronuclei per binucleated cell the number of cells with morethan one micronucleus increased. The mean group value for chromosome