NEUROBEHAVIORAL CHANGES IN SHOE MANUFACTURING WORKERS

A study was carried out to evaluate: (a) the value of a cumulative exp osure estimate (CEE) calculated from limited information on air concen tration; and (b) whether chronic exposure to mixed organic solvents at a shoe manufacturing factory has induced neurobehavioral changes. The Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery was administered to 40 female worke rs from a shoe manufacturing factory and 28 housekeepers as referents. The airborne concentrations of the solvents as a mixture were 0.46-0. 71 at the frame making process and 1.83-2.39 at the adhesive process. Performance was analyzed by three exposure indices: current department , exposure duration, and GEE. The Santa Ana Dexterity test showed stat istically significant differences only in GEE. In particular, the grou p with higher exposures had a significantly poorer performance than th e reference group, on preferred hand trials. The results suggested tha t CEE appeared to be a better indicator of mixed organic solvents expo sure, and neurobehavioral changes were associated with CEE over 10 yea rs. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.