The relation of occupational organic solvent exposure to symptom reporting in a sample of white and Chinese midlife women.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the relation of occupational solvent exposure to menopausal and other symptoms in midlife women.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study of 480 Chinese and 494 white women, aged 40-55 years, in Northern California. Levels of exposure to organic solvents (none, low, medium, or high) were assigned to each current job using a job-exposure matrix.


RESULTS
A lower proportion of women with low occupational organic solvent exposure reported hot flashes or night sweats than working women with no solvent exposure (adjusted prevalence odds ratio [APOR] = 0.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.19-1.21). A greater proportion of women with high solvent exposure reported forgetfulness than women with no exposure (APOR = 2.51, 95% CI = 1.12-5.63).


CONCLUSIONS
Some symptom reporting in midlife women was related to their occupational organic solvent exposure.
Green
Rochelle S
RS
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland, California 94612, USA. sgreen@oehha.ca.gov
Gold
Ellen B
EB
Samuels
Steven J
SJ
Dosemeci
Mustafa
M
D000328:Adult; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009790:Occupations; D015995:Prevalence; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016387:Women's Health
D012997:Solvents