title: Vestibular and balance findings in nonsymptomatic workers exposed to styrene and dichloromethane.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to assess the vestibular and balance system in non-symptomatic workers exposed to styrene and dichloromethane at the workplace.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects underwent videonystagmography including saccades, smooth pursuit (SP), optokinetic test (OKN), gaze nystagmus assessment, bithermal caloric test, and static posturography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study groups included 74 workers in plastics manufacturing, aged 40 (SD 8) years, exposed to styrene and dichloromethane, and the reference group of 49 non-exposed subjects, aged 36 (SD 10) years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 60% of exposed and non-symptomatic workers revealed abnormal results of vestibular tests. Saccadic latency elongation (p = 0.0098), lower gain in SP (p = 0.0037) and OKN (p = 0.0000) were more common in the exposed group, as well as lower reactivity (p = 0.0337) and mean slow phase velocity of caloric nystagmus. Static posturography revealed higher sway velocities in the test with eyes closed, on foam and worse results of three from five limit of stability tests. No relationship between chemicals exposure and vestibular and balance test results was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In principle, our findings indicate the possibility of high-level deficits in the central part of vestibular system. Lower vestibular reactivity may suggest that bilateral vestibular hypofunction might also be the possible consequence of solvent exposure.
authors.affiliation: Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Audiology and Phoniatrics Clinic, Lodz, Poland. zamysewa@imp.lodz.pl
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zamyslowska-Szmytke
authors.forename: Mariola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sliwinska-Kowalska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008752:Methylene Chloride / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017120:Nystagmus, Optokinetic / Q000187:drug effects; D009760:Nystagmus, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011044:Poland; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects*; D011698:Pursuit, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012438:Saccades / Q000187:drug effects; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020058:Styrene / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014743:Videotape Recording
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents; D020058:Styrene; D008752:Methylene Chloride