MONITORING NEUROTOXIC EFFECTS AMONG LABOR ATORY WORKERS EXPOSED TO ORGANIC-SOLVENTS

The relationship between organic solvent exposure and central nervous disorders make early detection of neurophysiologic et neuropsychologic alterations in organic solvent exposed workers a priority. Moreover t he variability in the frequency of exposure and the numerous organic s olvents encountered in scientific laboratories render the environmenta l and biological measurements used in medical surveys almost impossibl e. The present study was undertaken to appreciate the potential neurot oxic effects of organic solvents handling in laboratory employees. Neu rophysiological and neuropsychological tests batteries were used with each worker and data were adjusted for potential confounding factors ( age and education level), A Principal Components Analysis was performe d to reduce the information and the first five factors corresponded to mood states, speed coding, contrast vision in high frequencies, manua l dexterity and contrast vision in low frequencies. These five factors were compared between the daily manipulators of at least one solvent (n=75) and the non or occasional solvent users (n=35). The results fro m this study showed that subjects directly in contact with solvents ha d a poorer mood state than those who were not or rarely exposed (p<0.0 1) and that independently of the ''work activity''. Mood state impairm ent in chronic solvent exposed workers has been shown by many authors, with or without psychomotor alteration, and may reflect possible over -exposure. Detection of this instability may lead to early neurophysio logic alteration in exposed workers and permit health services to inte rvene before the development of irreversible effects.