SOLVENT-INDUCED CHRONIC TOXIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

Chlorinated solvents, especially trichloroethylene, have been extensiv ely used for metal degreasing since the beginning of this century. The re have been case reports of cranial nerve damage and symptoms of acut e and reversible encephalopathy. However, another issue during the las t decade is the possible existence of a syndrome of chronic cerebral d ysfunction. Our study deals with the risk of developing a state of psy choorganic syndrome after long-term exposure to solvents, mainly trich loroethylene. In this historical cohort study, 96 metal degreasers par ticipated in a clinical medical and psychological examination. The ris k of developing psychoorganic syndrome was proportional to the exposur e duration, to increasing age, and to decreasing primary intellectual level. Using logistic regression analysis, there was a significantly i ncreased risk of developing psychoorganic syndrome from solvent exposu re. There was an odds ratio of 5.6 (0.93-34.3) for psychoorganic syndr ome in the medium-exposed group. In the most highly exposed group, wit h a mean full-time exposure duration of 11 years, there was a signific antly increased risk of psychoorganic syndrome, the adjusted odds rati o was 11.2 (1.9-66.6). None of four other potential confounders (arter iosclerotic disease, neurologic/psychiatric disease, alcohol abuse, an d current solvent exposure) had any significant associations to psycho organic syndrome.