Effects of Mixed Organic Solvents on Neuromotor Functions among Workers in Buddhist Altar Manufacturing Factories

Abstract

Effects of Mixed Organic Solvents on Neuromotor Functions among Workers in BuddhistAltar Manufacturing Factories: Toyoto IWATA, et al. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Akita University School of Medicine-To clarify the neuromotor effects of long-term exposure to mixed organic solvents, postural sway and tremor were measured in 62 solvent workers of four Buddhist altar manufacturing factories who had worked for 1-46 (mean 12) yr. By using the passive gas sampler, 8-h time-weighted average concentrations in the workers were estimated to be 0.02-8.7 ppm for toluene, 0.02-7.7 ppm for xylene, 0.02-5.5 ppm for styrene and 0.02-40.5 ppm for n-hexane. Sagittal sway and sway area of the posturography with eyes closed were significantly larger in the solvent workers than in 35 age-matched controls (p<0.05), and there was a significant difference in Romberg quotient of sagittal sway between the two groups (p<0.05). Also, tremor intensities at 1.0-5.9 Hz, 6.0-9.9 Hz and 10.0-13.9 Hz with the right hand, and at 6.0-9.9 Hz with the left hand were significantly stronger in the solvent workers than in the controls. Among the solvent workers, transversal and sagittal sways with eyes open and tremor intensity at 10.0-13.9 Hz were significantly related to toluene exposure (p<0.05), which may have been due to the acute effects of such solvents. These findings suggest that longterm exposure to mixed organic solvents may impair neuromotor functions as measured by postural sway and tremor. (J Occup Health 2005; 47: 143-148)

Effect of Chronic and Subchronic Organic Solvents Exposure on Balance Control of Workers in Plant Manufacturing Adhesive Materials

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Effect of Indoor Airpollution on Postural Balance Controlamong School Students

“…36 Our results are in accordance with the conclusions of several previous studies [36][37][38] that postural balance testing has proven useful in identifying subtle neuromotor abnormalities secondary to exposures to jet fuel, solvents, alcohol and lead. Other studies [39][40][41][42] also concluded that posturography is a useful technique to assess the toxicity of solvents on the CNS.…”

Effects of mercury vapor exposure on neuromotor function in Chinese miners and smelters

“…Hand tremor was measured successively for each hand for 16.4 s, by asking the subjects to hold a light stylus, containing a biaxial micro-accelerometer, as he would hold an ordinary pen, with the elbow joint bent at a right angle and free of body contact or any obstacles (Després et al 2000;Iwata et al 2005bIwata et al , 2006Murata et al 2004;Nadeau et al 2003). The stylus was held horizontally, parallel to the abdomen at approximately 10 cm in front of the navel and the index Wnger was positioned about 1 cm from the tip of the stylus.…”