title: Surveillance of early neurotoxic dysfunction.
abstract: Surveillance of early neurotoxic alterations was undertaken in 3 reinforced plastics plants, with a view to preventive intervention. Using a longitudinal study design, exposure parameters (environmental styrene in the respiratory zone of each worker and end-shift mandelic acid (MA)) and neurobehavioral performance (Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery and Field Assessment: Sensory Tests), were assessed at time zero (T0); recommendations were made to reduce exposure at jobsites with the highest risk. Reassessment was made two years later (T2). Complete exposure data was available for 118 workers at T0; 75 were still employed at T2; of these, 57 (76%) returned for testing. Those who returned had more seniority (p < 0.001) and higher MA (p < 0.01) and styrene (p < 0.05) levels at T0 than the others. Analyses, performed on the T0-T2 differences, showed improvement in exposure parameters in Plant 3, where lower levels were observed at T2 for styrene (p < 0.05) and MA (p < 0.001). workers in Plant 3 (n = 29) performed better (p < 0.05) at T2 for short term memory, perceptuo-motor speed, motor precision and manual dexterity; they reported more vigor (p < 0.05) and less anger (p = 0.07). This was not the case for the workers from the other plants. Generally, the T0-T2 difference in MA was associated (Spearman's Rho) with differences in color vision (p < 0.001), simple reaction time (mean and standard deviation), digit span forward, tension, fatigue and the number of symptoms (p < 0.05); aiming precision showed a similar tendency (p < 0.10). These findings suggest that group surveillance of early nervous system changes for jobs with exposure to neurotoxins, using a sensitive neurofunctional test battery, may be useful for preventive intervention.
authors.affiliation: Centre pour l'étude des interactions biologiques entre la santé et l'environnement (CINBIOSE), Université du Québec à Montréal.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mergler
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bélanger
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bowler
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Truchon
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Drolet
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ostiguy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D020058:Styrene; D013343:Styrenes / Q000633:toxicity*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D009498:Neurotoxins; D013343:Styrenes; D020058:Styrene