CHRONIC SOLVENT NEUROTOXICITY IN NEW-ZEALAND - NOTIFIED CASES BETWEEN1993 AND 1997

Aim. To report on cases of chronic solvent neurotoxicity notified to t he Department of Labour between 1993 and 1997. Methods. Previously pub lished diagnostic criteria were used to classify notified cases as ''v erified'', ''not verified'' or ''not proven''. Verified cases were fur ther classified as Type 1 or 2(2) and analysed according to occupation , solvent type and length of exposure. Results. Of 193 notified cases, 76 were classified as ''verified''. The majority were male (74/76) an d European (69/76). Mean length of exposure to solvents for Type I cas es was 10.6 years (SD 4.7) and for Type II cases 19.8 years (SD 8.4). Forty-three cases were classified as ''mild'' and 33 as ''moderate''. The most frequent occupation was spraypainting (39%), followed by prin ting (16%) and boatbuilding (9%). There was no correlation between sev erity of symptoms and type of solvent. There was a nonsignificant tren d of increasing severity of symptoms with length of exposure. Conclusi on. Exposure to solvents is an important health hazard in New Zealand workplaces.