[MCOH-EH] Saccharin and LFTs

[Linda Clark, MD]

I am working with a nurse at a health center who performs on average 2-3 qualitative fit tests a week using saccharin. She uses her office for the sensitivity testing and then another room for the fit test.  Her doctor has noticed a gradual increase in her LFTs (don't know exact values) and she is curious about whether the fit testing could be the cause - infectious causes ruled out, she has limited her ETOH and retested without change, and her doctor feels she has a mild fatty liver.  No bx yet.

I've asked her to use two other rooms besides her office for the testing as a precaution, especially since now when she smells the saccharin, she has a belief that it may be causing harm. I think the only other choice with the system we have is Bitrex, which we decided to only use on those not able to taste the saccharin.  She is only fit testing N95 respirators.

In doing  a literature search, I've seen that ingestion may have some impact on LFTs in rats...  Does anyone else have a similar experience, especially with those doing high volume testing?  Any other suggestions for reducing exposure to saccharin?

Linda L. Clark, MD, MS
Occupational and Preventive Medicine
(585) 227-0072 P
(585) 227-9585 F
lclark at doctorclark.org<mailto:lclark at doctorclark.org>

[065_clark_occ_logo_long_color]

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