Peripheral nerve conduction study in workers exposed to a mixture of organic solvents in paint and lacquer industry.
OBJECTIVE
To compare levels of combined exposure to white spirit, toluene, butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, and xylene in the manufacturing of paint, cartridge, drying, and top-coat sections of paint and lacquer industry, and peripheral nerve conduction parameters in the exposed workers.


METHODS
The exposed group comprised 120 workers while the control group included 110 workers who had never been exposed to the above listed organic solvents. Nerve conduction studies of the radial and tibial anterior nerve were performed in both groups.


RESULTS
Motor and sensitive conduction velocity, as well as terminal latency of the radial and tibial anterior nerve showed significant changes in exposed workers in comparison to those of the control group (p<0.001). These parameters were significantly changed in workers with long length exposure to the toxic agents. In early stages of exposure, neural conduction parameters of the radial nerve were the most sensitive parameters in detecting subclinical peripheral nerve changes (p<0.001). There was significant correlation between the nerve conduction changes and urinary levels of hippuric and methyl-hippuric acids (p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the study suggest neurotoxic effects of the mixture of white spirit, toluene, butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, and xylene detected in paint and lacquer industry. Standard measurement of the urinary levels of hippuric and methyl-hippuric acids could be a useful indicator of need for nerve conduction studies and the subclinical peripheral neuropathy screening in exposed workers.
Jovanović
Jovica M
JM
Vidoja Jovanovica 30, 18205 Niska Banja, Serbia and Montenegro. joca@medfak.ni.ac.yu
Jovanović
Milan M
MM
Spasić
Mirjana J
MJ
Lukić
Stevo R
SR
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010150:Paint / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011826:Radial Nerve; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013979:Tibial Nerve; D015022:Yugoslavia / Q000453:epidemiology
D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012997:Solvents