title: Neurotoxicity induced by exposure to toluene. An electrophysiologic study.
abstract: The object of the present study was to evaluate, with the aid of electrophysiologic techniques, the alterations induced in the auditory nervous system by exposure to toluene in a group of rotogravure workers. From 300 workers who were apparently in good health but were professionally exposed to toluene, we selected a sample of 40 workers of normal hearing ability. They were examined with an adaptation test studied by the brainstem auditory evoked potential technique with 11 and 90 stimulus repetitions a second. The results were compared with those in a group of workers of the same age but not professionally exposed to solvents. Our study demonstrates that exposure to toluene is able to induce a statistically significant alteration in the electric responses with both 11 and 90 stimuli repetitions. This alteration can be explained as a toluene exposure-induced modification, of physiologic stimulus conduction mechanisms, even in the absence of any clinical sign of neuropathy. Furthermore, such a modification could be observed in the electric responses of the entire auditory system, from peripheral receptors to brainstem nuclei.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Health, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abbate
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giorgianni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Munaò
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brecciaroli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011327:Printing; D014050:Toluene / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D014050:Toluene