A BEHAVIORAL-EVALUATION OF PCE EXPOSURE IN PATIENTS AND DRY CLEANERS - A POSSIBLE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CLINICAL AND PRECLINICAL EFFECTS

Long-term deficits in visuospatial function and memory and disturbance s in mood have been clinically identified and followed in four patient s occupationally exposed to perchloroethylene (PCE). A frontal/limbic hypothesis is offered as the site of pathology. A separate study among 65 dry cleaners was conducted to provide similar evidence of impairme nt, suggesting a continuum between clinical and preclinical effects. T hree exposure zones were identified for the counter clerks, pressers, and operators corresponding to air levels of 11.2, 23.2, and 40.8 ppm. Decrements were found for visual reproductions (14.4%), the number co rrect (6.7%) and the latency (10%) for pattern memory, and the number correct (3.9%) for pattern recognition. Chronic, life-long deficits ap pear below 50 ppm and require at least 3 years of exposure. A reexamin ation of the OSHA standard is recommended and shows that behavioral te sting can be used as an early indicator of more serious clinical effec ts.