Changes in psychological performances of solvent‐poisoned and solvent‐exposed workers

Abstract

The changes in psychological performances associated with long-term exposure to organic solvents and solvent mixtures were studied in a group of 56 male workers diagnosed as having an occupational disease caused by solvents. Their mean duration of exposure was 9.1 +/- SD 8.3 years, and they were exposed mainly to halogenated and aromatic hydrocarbons and to mixtures of paint solvents. The psychological performances of these solvent-exposed patients were compared with those of 98 styrene-exposed workers and a nonexposed group of 43 construction workers. The applied psychological test variables were factor analyzed, before other statistical analysis, in order to clarify what they measured in the present study. The solvent-exposed group was characterized by a decline in visuomotor performance and decreased freedom from distractibility. The poor visuomotor performances were also related to the long duration of solvent exposure in this group of patients. The index applied for the exposure level revealed no significant relationships to psychological performances among the solvent-exposed patients. The psychological performances of the styrene-exposed group differed only very slightly from those of the nonexposed workers.

Risk of neuropsychiatric disability among painters in the United States.

“…Both clinical and epidemiologic studies, primarily originating from Scandinavia, suggest that painters have an elevated risk of neurological deficits and possibly chronic neuropsychiatric disorders (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). However, outside Scandinavia, few if any studies have been done to evaluate the risk of chronic neuropsychiatric disease among painters.…”

“…Moreover, deficits in visual intelligence and memory have been associated with organic solvent exposure (3)(4)(5). These impairments among painters were also found two years after the initial diagnosis (6) or were present when diagnosed five or more years after the termination of the solvent exposure in question (7).…”

La santé mentale et l’exposition aux solvants organiques en milieu de travail

“…Et il s'ensuit que ce sont les travailleurs «en santé» qui restent aux postes les plus exposés. Ce phé-nomène relève ce de qu'on a appelé le «syndrome du travailleur en santé» («healthy worker syndrome») (Gregersen et al, 1984;Lindstrom, 1980). Dans ce cas, l'évaluation des modifications neurocomportementales se fait sur des personnes ayant une meilleure résistance apparente aux agents neurotoxiques.…”

“…Analysant les résultats de cinq études finlandaises sur les effets neurotoxiques de l'exposition à long terme aux solvants organiques, Lindstrom (1980) fait ressortir l'importante interaction de divers facteurs qui influencent l'état psychologique («psychological end-state») des personnes exposées. H propose un modèle écologique d'interaction dynamique entre l'environnement, pris dans son sens large, et les fonctions physiologiques et psychologiques des personnes exposées: ce qui lui permet de comprendre la complexité de la situation.…”

Occupational solvent exposure and neuropsychiatric disorders.

“…Several psychological studies have shown that painters and other workers with solvent exposure have disturbed psychological functions and emotional reactions (3,4,6). Patients with solvent intoxication were found to have electroencephalographic abnormalities and also impairment in memory, concentration, and sensory and motor functions (1,10).…”