PERIPHERAL NEUROLOGIC ABNORMALITIES AMONG ROOFING WORKERS - SENTINEL CASE AND CLINICAL SCREENING

Peripheral neuropathy developed in a 52-y-old roofer who was exposed t o multiple solvents in one-ply roofing systems. Forty roofers who were exposed to various roofing systems were assessed by symptoms, occupat ional history, standardized physical examination, and measurement of v ibrotactile thresholds of the upper and lower extremities. After exclu sion of roofers who were predisposed to peripheral neuropathy, we defe cted abnormal vibrotactile thresholds in 42% (p < .001) of roofers' do minant toes and in 36% (p < .001) of roofers' nondominant toes; fewer roofers had abnormal sensory physical examinations or reported neuriti c symptoms. Roofing workers may be at increased risk of peripheral neu ropathy, perhaps resulting from exposure to solvents-particularly n-he xane, associated with one-ply roofing systems.