Neurobehavioral effects of long-term occupational exposure to organic solvents: two comparable studies.
Two comparable cross-sectional studies were carried out employing the same methodology but involving two separate solvent-exposed populations (N = 90, N = 144). In each study, solvent-exposed workers were compared with age-matched controls on tests selected from the Neurobehavioral Evaluation System and on standardized questionnaire measures of symptomatology and psychiatric state. A similar pattern of results was obtained in the two studies indicating a significant effect on cognitive functioning, after controlling for confounding variables, occurring in those with more than 30 years of exposure. A more specific effect on learning processes was observed in those with more than 10 years of exposure. There were no indications in either study of a solvent-related increase in psychiatric symptoms.
Spurgeon
A
A
Institute of Occupational Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, England.
Gray
C N
CN
Sims
J
J
Calvert
I
I
Levy
L S
LS
Harvey
P G
PG
Harrington
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009790:Occupations; D010150:Paint / Q000009:adverse effects; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D012997:Solvents