Exposure to organic solvents and its effects on the central nervous system in workers of the Camaçari petrochemical complex in Brazil.
While numerous studies have been carried out in industrialized countries, only very few epidemiologic investigations performed in developing countries are reported in the international literature. This study is one of the few examples of investigations carried out in a region where industrialization is at its beginning. A sample of 188 workers employed at the Camaçari Petrochemical Complex in Bahia, Brazil, and exposed for over five years to organic solvents was submitted to neurobehavioral testing (QQS questionnaire, MANS battery) together with a 1/1 control group paired for age, school attendance and alcohol consumption. The exposed subjects showed differences significantly worse at emotional status, manual dexterity, recognition memory and subjective symptoms. Exposed subjects are therefore characterized by decreased psychophysical well-being.
Saretto
G
G
USSL 43, Vigevano.
Oliveira
F C
FC
Kato
M
M
Reis
E J
EJ
Castro
R C
RC
Dorigatti
F
F
Camerino
D
D
Gilioli
R
R
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D002617:Chemical Industry; D003906:Developing Countries; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects*
D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012997:Solvents