Neurobehavioral disturbances arising from occupational toluene exposure.
BACKGROUND
Neurotoxicity of long-term exposure to toluene is known at higher levels than 50 ppm and is suspected at lower levels.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study carried out in two printing plants on 129 blue collar workers explored such a low level exposure of toluene. With 231 samples of ambient air, toluene concentration was estimated from 0 to 18 ppm in Plant A (offset) and from 2 to 27 ppm in Plant B (heliogravure). Outside any period of acute exposure, the workers answered a self-administered questionnaire on neurotoxic symptoms, EUROQUEST, and performed six psychometric tests on a computer-assisted version of battery NES.


RESULTS
After adjustment for confounders, we found significant relationships only between present exposure and Digit Span Forwards (DSF) performance (decrement is 1 digit for 40 ppm, P=0.04) and Digit Span Backwards (DSB) performance (decrement is 1 digit for 25 ppm, P=0.01). Neurotoxic symptoms were not significantly correlated with current exposure. No association was found between estimated cumulative exposure and either psychometric performances or neurotoxic symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, low present exposure levels to toluene were associated with decrements of memory test performances.
Chouanière
Dominique
D
Department of Epidemiology, French National Research and Safety Institute for the Prevention of Occupational Accidents and Diseases, Vandoeuvre, Cedex, France. chouaniere@inrs.fr
Wild
Pascal
P
Fontana
Jean-Marc
JM
Héry
Michel
M
Fournier
Maryvonne
M
Baudin
Vincent
V
Subra
Isabelle
I
Rousselle
Dominique
D
Toamain
Jean-Paul
JP
Saurin
Sylvie
S
Ardiot
Marie-Rose
MR
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D011327:Printing; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013995:Time; D014050:Toluene / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D012997:Solvents; D014050:Toluene