Reaction time of industrial workers exposed to organic solvents: relationship to degree of exposure and psychological performance

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981 · Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700020403· OSTI ID:6651919

Gregersen, P; Stigsby, B

Auditory reaction time (RT) was examined on a day free from work and on a working day in 54 workers exposed to organic solvents and in 28 unexposed workers. Medical and occupational history was recorded and neurological examination and psychological testing carried out to establish quantitative parameters of exposure and cerebral function. There was a wider 95% range of the RT in the exposed group compared to the control group on the working day and a tendency in the same direction on the day free from work. There was no difference in the means of the RT, or within the groups between the examinations on the two days. The increased RT 95% range is interpreted as indicating an impaired ability in the exposed workers to maintain their attention during the experimental period, owing to chronic exposure of organic solvents. RT measurements did not correlate with exposure or psychological performance. RT would seem to be a means of measuring subclinical effects of exposure to organic solvents.

• Research Organization: Department of Neurology, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
• OSTI ID: 6651919
• Journal Information: Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States), Vol. 2:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AUDITORY ORGANS
SENSITIVITY
BEHAVIOR
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CEREBRUM
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
PERSONNEL
PSYCHOLOGY
REFLEXES
BODY
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANS
SAFETY
SENSE ORGANS
SOLVENTS
560306* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)
550100 - Behavioral Biology