Liver enzymes among microelectronics equipment maintenance technicians.

Equipment maintenance workers within the microelectronics industry have opportunities for occupational exposure to a variety of toxic agents. This pilot investigation compares liver enzymes in this population with that of other coworkers. Participants (n = 135) were randomly selected from a medical surveillance program at the manufacturing facility. Nine job categories were examined, including equipment maintenance workers and electronic technicians. Although abnormal liver enzymes were detected among equipment maintenance workers (odds ratio 16.4; P less than .008) and electronic technicians (odds ratio 27; P less than .0005), the numbers of participants were small (n = 8, 10). The data suggest that independent and/or interactive etiologic roles of occupation and alcohol should be further investigated. Early detection of subclinical occupational or recreational hepatotoxicity with appropriate employment of industrial hygiene control technology and/or the reduction of alcohol consumption may provide a means of preventing liver disease.