Skip to main content
PMC home page
Occupational and Environmental Medicine logoLink to Occupational and Environmental Medicine
. 2002 Jan;59(1):44–48. doi: 10.1136/oem.59.1.44

Decreased white blood cell counts in semiconductor manufacturing workers in Taiwan

J Luo 1, L Hsieh 1, M Chang 1, K Hsu 1
PMCID: PMC1740200  PMID: 11836468

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the systematic health effects on the liver, kidney, and haematological function tests of workers in semiconductors in Taiwan.

Methods: 926 workers of a semiconductor plant in Taiwan in July 1995 were investigated. Complete blood tests including liver, kidney, and haematological functions were available from 227 workers.

Results: There was a significantly lower mean (SD) white blood cell (WBC) count in male workers of photolithography (5870 (1190)/mm3, p=0.003) and implantation (6190 (1150)/mm3, p=0.018) than that of male control workers (7350 (1660)/mm3). There was a significantly higher prevalence of leukopenia in male photolithography workers (6 of 20; 30%) than in male control workers (1 of 18; 5.6%), the crude odds ratio (OR) was 7.3 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1 to 55.6), and the multivariate adjusted OR was 8.1 (95% CI 0.83 to 78.3). The tests for serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), γ glutamyl transferase (RGT), and creatinine were not significant among male workers. Female workers in photolithography had abnormal SGPT and RGT of borderline significance, the multivariate adjusted ORs were 9.6 (95% CI 0.86 to 107) and 6.35 (95% CI 0.53 to 75.8), respectively.

Conclusions: This study suggests that leukopenia is a potential health effect in male fabrication workers of the semiconductor industry. The tasks of the process, maintenance, and equipment engineers which consisted mostly of men put them at risk for intermittent short term peak exposure to glycol ethers, ionising radiation, arsenic, or other toxins. The findings of this medical surveillance are significant; however, a further investigation of the aetiological factors and the subsequent health effects is necessary.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (103.6 KB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Burns C. J., Boswell J. M., Olsen G. W. Liver enzyme activity and body mass index. J Occup Environ Med. 1996 Dec;38(12):1248–1252. doi: 10.1097/00043764-199612000-00010. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Cohr K. H., Stokholm J. Toluene. A toxicologic review. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1979 Jun;5(2):71–90. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.2664. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Cone J. E. Health hazards of solvents. Occup Med. 1986 Jan-Mar;1(1):69–87. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Cullen M. R., Rado T., Waldron J. A., Sparer J., Welch L. S. Bone marrow injury in lithographers exposed to glycol ethers and organic solvents used in multicolor offset and ultraviolet curing printng processes. Arch Environ Health. 1983 Nov-Dec;38(6):347–354. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1983.10545819. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Lewis D. R. Dopant materials used in the microelectronics industry. Occup Med. 1986 Jan-Mar;1(1):35–47. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Luo J. C., Hsu K. H., Hsieh L. L., Wong C. J., Chang M. J. Lung function and general illness symptoms in a semiconductor manufacturing facility. J Occup Environ Med. 1998 Oct;40(10):895–900. doi: 10.1097/00043764-199810000-00010. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Nieto F. J., Szklo M., Folsom A. R., Rock R., Mercuri M. Leukocyte count correlates in middle-aged adults: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Am J Epidemiol. 1992 Sep 1;136(5):525–537. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a116530. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Pastides H., Calabrese E. J., Hosmer D. W., Jr, Harris D. R., Jr Spontaneous abortion and general illness symptoms among semiconductor manufacturers. J Occup Med. 1988 Jul;30(7):543–551. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Petitti D. B., Kipp H. The leukocyte count: associations with intensity of smoking and persistence of effect after quitting. Am J Epidemiol. 1986 Jan;123(1):89–95. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114227. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Reichling J. J., Kaplan M. M. Clinical use of serum enzymes in liver disease. Dig Dis Sci. 1988 Dec;33(12):1601–1614. doi: 10.1007/BF01535953. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Salvaggio A., Periti M., Miano L., Tavanelli M., Marzorati D. Body mass index and liver enzyme activity in serum. Clin Chem. 1991 May;37(5):720–723. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Schenker M. Occupational lung diseases in the industrializing and industrialized world due to modern industries and modern pollutants. Tuber Lung Dis. 1992 Feb;73(1):27–32. doi: 10.1016/0962-8479(92)90076-V. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Swan S. H., Beaumont J. J., Hammond S. K., VonBehren J., Green R. S., Hallock M. F., Woskie S. R., Hines C. J., Schenker M. B. Historical cohort study of spontaneous abortion among fabrication workers in the Semiconductor Health Study: agent-level analysis. Am J Ind Med. 1995 Dec;28(6):751–769. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700280610. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Teitelbaum D. T. Photoactive chemicals used in photoresist systems. Occup Med. 1986 Jan-Mar;1(1):59–68. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Wald P. H., Becker C. E. Toxic gases used in the microelectronics industry. Occup Med. 1986 Jan-Mar;1(1):105–117. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Wald P. H., Jones J. R. Semiconductor manufacturing: an introduction to processes and hazards. Am J Ind Med. 1987;11(2):203–221. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700110209. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Occupational and Environmental Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES