title: Otoneurological study in workers exposed to styrene in the fiberglass industry.
abstract: Twenty workers exposed to styrene and acetone in small fiberglass factories were monitored for 8 h using passive dosimeters. Urine samples were collected at the end of the workshift and before the start of work on the next morning. The 8-h time-weighted average exposure values for styrene and acetone ranged from 14 to 416 mg/m3 and from 70 to 277 mg/m3, respectively. The sum of styrene metabolites, mandelic acid and phenylglyoxylic acid (MA + PGA), in the next-morning urine samples ranged from 81 to 943 mg/g creatinine. Different test sensitivity was identified in the otoneurological battery: it was low for audiometric tests and ABR, and relatively high for vestibular tests. The vestibular system seems partially sensitive to the toxic effects of styrene in the absence of clinical signs and symptoms. The actual exposure levels for styrene cannot be considered devoid of functional subclinical consequences.
authors: Clinica Otorinolaringoiatrica, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Calabrese
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Martini
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Sessa
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Cellini
authors: G B
authors: GB
authors: Bartolucci
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Marcuzzo
authors: E
authors: E
authors: De Rosa
mesh_terms: D000096:Acetone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D020058:Styrene; D013343:Styrenes / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D013343:Styrenes; C009753:fiberglass; D000096:Acetone; D020058:Styrene