title: Balance system assessment in workers exposed to organic solvent mixture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the balance and vestibular systems in healthy workers exposed to low concentrations of organic solvent mixtures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study groups comprised 60 workers exposed to mixture of organic solvents and 110 reference workers. All subjects performed static posturography and electronystagmography (ENG).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In posturography, abnormal reaction time was more frequent and statistically longer in solvent-exposed group. Also, worse results of movement coordination parameters were observed in this group. The ENG square waves and abnormal optokinetic results were more common in exposed group. Mean caloric response was shorter in the exposed group. Negative relationship was found between time of caloric response and cumulative toluene concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Balance abnormalities in solvent-exposed workers indicated subclinical damage, mainly of central part of vestibular system and body-movement coordination. It would not be reasonable to exclude the vestibular hyporeactivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology and Phoniatrics, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland. zamysewa@imp.lodz.pl
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zamyslowska-Szmytke
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Politanski
authors.forename: Mariola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sliwinska-Kowalska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001259:Ataxia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001299:Audiometry; D004584:Electronystagmography; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006626:Hippurates / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014050:Toluene / Q000009:adverse effects; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014992:Xylenes / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D006626:Hippurates; D012997:Solvents; D014992:Xylenes; D014050:Toluene; C030514:hippuric acid