Neurobehavioral effects in occupational chemical exposure

Journal Article · Sun Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1993 · Environmental Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1006/enrs.1993.1036· OSTI ID:6465457

Foo, Sweecheng; Ngim, Chunhan; Salleh, Ismail; Jeryaratnam, J; Boey, Kamweng ^[1]

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1. National Univ. of Singapore (Singapore)

Neurobehavioral effects in 30 female workers (aged 18-41, mean 25.6) exposed to an average of 341 mg/m[sup 3] (SD 100) toluene for an average of 5.7 years (SD 3.3) compared with 30 matched controls (aged 18-48, mean 25.1), 24 male workers (aged 18-32, mean 24.7) exposed to 268 Mg/M[sup 3] (SD 185) toluene equivalent of mixed solvent (82.2% toluene, 12.3% ethyl acetate, and 5.5% methyl ethyl ketone) for 2.3 years (SD 3.0) compared with 24 matched controls (aged 17-31, mean 24.3), and 94 dentists (aged 24-49, mean 31.7) exposed to 0.017 Mg/M[sup 3] (SD 0.009) of elemental mercury for 7.4 years (SD 5.3) compared with 54 referents (aged 23-50, mean 33.6) were studied. The Z score (made up of Digit Span, Symbols Digit, and Grooved Peg Board) for the workers exposed to toluene was 0.79, for workers exposed to mixed solvents was 0.38, and for the dentists exposed to mercury was 0.42. The Z score for each group of exposed subjects was statistically poorer than that for its controls. Neurobehavioral performance was statistically related to exposure intensity for the toluene-exposed workers and to years of exposure or dose (exposure intensity x years of exposure) for mixed solvent- and mercury-exposed subjects. The type of chemical species and pattern of exposure appear to influence whether the adverse effects will be cumulative. 14 refs., 1 figs., 3 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6465457
• Journal Information: Environmental Research; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Research; (United States) Vol. 60:2; ISSN ENVRAL; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550900 -- Pathology
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
DISEASE INCIDENCE
DISEASES
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
HYDROCARBONS
MERCURY
METALS
MIXED SOLVENTS
MIXTURES
NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SOLVENTS
TOLUENE