Dose-dependent neurologic abnormalities in workers exposed to 1-bromopropane.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the health effects of 1-bromopropane (1-BP) and its dose-dependency in 1-BP production factories in China.


METHODS
Data of 60 female and 26 male workers in three 1-BP factories and the same number of age-, sex-, and region-matched controls were interviewed and examined. The time-weighed average exposure levels of individual workers were estimated.


RESULTS
Regression analysis on exposure level showed dose-dependent increase in the distal latency of tibial nerve, threshold for vibration sense in toes, lactate dehydrogenase, thyroid stimulating hormone, and follicle stimulating hormone in female workers. The analysis also showed dose-dependent decrease in sensory nerve conduction velocity of the sural nerve, red blood cell, and hematocrit in female workers.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that exposure to 1-BP induces dose-dependent neurotoxicity in female workers.
Li
Weihua
W
School of Public Health/MOE Key Lab for Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Shibata
Eiji
E
Zhou
Zhijun
Z
Ichihara
Sahoko
S
Wang
Hailan
H
Wang
Qiangyi
Q
Li
Jiefei
J
Zhang
Lingyi
L
Wakai
Kenji
K
Takeuchi
Yasuhiro
Y
Ding
Xuncheng
X
Ichihara
Gaku
G
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated / Q000009:adverse effects; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; C118559:1-bromopropane