Neurotoxicity of chronic low-level exposure to organic solvents: caveats for applied neuropsychologists.
Research findings on the neuropsychological consequences of chronic low-level exposure to organic solvents are equivocal. Because methodological weaknesses cast doubt on some empirical publications that report causal links between occupational exposure and irreversible neuropsychological deficits, findings can mislead rather than inform neuropsychological assessment. Empirical articles often do not provide enough information to support the conclusions offered or to evaluate the reasoning by which the conclusions were reached. This article discusses some prototypical weaknesses in empirical articles and illustrates these weaknesses with selected examples. The contribution that neuropsychologists can make to improve the quality of research is discussed.
Williams
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Lees-Haley Psychological Corporation, Woodland Hills, CA, USA.
Lees-Haley
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