[Actual nutrition and biochemical parameters of the food status of workers exposed to chlorobenzene].

Workers of two chemical plants exposed to chlorobenzene were examined for actual nutrition and effects of the treatment and prophylactic diet on the food status. Investigation of the actual nutrition has demonstrated that the energy value of the daily diets approaches the magnitudes established for the given occupational and age group whereas the daily distribution of food with respect to the caloric value and alimentary substances does not correspond to the hygienic standards. The treatment and prophylactic diets developed for the workers were also characterized by disproportion between the dietary components. As compared to the control group, the workers exposed to chlorobenzene demonstrated a lower content of total glutathione in blood plasma. The majority of the workers manifested ascorbic acid deficiency. In accordance with the study of the coefficients of the activation of erythrocytic enzymes, it may be concluded that the workers placed on the treatment and prophylactic diet are better provided with vitamins B1, B2 and B6 than the workers of the housing and communal services. Thirty percent of the workers showed vitamin B6 deficiency. This may have an adverse action on the resistance to industrial substances conjugating with glutathione. The rate of vitamin B1 deficiency was also fairly high, whereas in the workers of one of the plants the magnitude of the TDP-effect appeared higher than normal.