title: [Effect of vanadium exposure on neurobehavioral function in workers].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish the comprehensive indicators for neurobehavioral function test, and to investigate the possible adverse effect of long-time vanadium exposure on neurobehavioral function and its features in workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  From July to November, 2012, The Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery(NCTB) recommended by WHO was used to conduct tests for 128 workers in vanadium exposure group and 128 workers in control group. The t-test and analysis of covariance were used to compare the differences in each indicator in NCTB between different populations, and the principal component analysis was used to establish the comprehensive neurobehavioral index(NBI) and investigate the effect of vanadium on workers' neurobehavioral function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The vanadium exposure group had significantly lower visual retention score(6.9±1.9), digit span(order) score(8.9±2.9), lifting and turning dexterity(the non-handed hand) score (14.1±3.6), pursuit aiming test(the number of correct dots) score(65.7±24.8), and digit symbol score (31.1±15.0) than the control group (8.2±1.3, 9.4±2.7, 15.5±3.0, 76.5±23.8, and 33.7±9.5)(all P<0.05). The vanadium exposure group also had a significantly lower NBI than the control group(-0.167±0.602 vs 0.168±0.564, P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term vanadium exposure can influence the workers' neurobehavioral function, with the manifestations of decreased hearing and visual memory, movement velocity, accuracy, and coordination.
authors.affiliation: West China School of Public Heath, SichuanUniversity, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Y X
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lan
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D014639:Vanadium
chemical_list: D014639:Vanadium