Study of urinary mandelic acid concentration and peripheral nerve conduction among styrene workers

Background:Although styrene is an established neurotoxicant at occupational exposure levels, its neurotoxicity has not been characterized in relation to general population exposures. Further, occupational research to date has focused on central nervous system impairment.Objective:We assessed styrene-associated differences in sensory and motor function among Gulf coast residents.Methods:We used 2011 National Air Toxics Assessment estimates of ambient styrene to determine exposure levels for 2,956 nondiabetic Gulf state residents enrolled in the Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study, and additionally measured blood styrene concentration in a subset of participants 1 to 2 y after enrollment (n=310). Participants completed an enrollment telephone interview and a comprehensive test battery to assess sensory and motor function during a clinical follow-up exam 2 to 4 y later. Detailed covariate information was ascertained at enrollment via telephone interview. We used multivariate linear regression to estimate continuous differences in sensory and motor function, and log-binomial regression to estimate prevalence ratios for dichotomous outcomes. We estimated associations of both ambient and blood styrene exposures with sensory and motor function, independently for five unique tests.Results:Those participants in the highest 25% vs. lowest 75% of ambient exposure and those in the highest 10% vs. lowest 90% of blood styrene had slightly diminished visual contrast sensitivity. Mean vibrotactile thresholds were lower among those in the highest vs. lowest quartile of ambient styrene and the highest 10% vs. lowest 90% of blood styrene (−0.13 log microns; 95% CI: −0.23, −0.03 and −0.39 log microns; 95% CI: −0.72, −0.05, respectively). The highest vs. lowest quartile of ambient styrene was associated with significantly poorer postural stability, and (unexpectedly) with significantly greater grip strength.Discussion:We observed associations between higher styrene exposure and poorer visual, sensory, and vestibular function, though we did not detect associations with reduced voluntary motor system performance. Associations were more consistent for ambient exposures, but we also found notable associations with measured blood styrene. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP3954

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“…2009) as well as conventional electrophysiological testing of peripheral nerve conduction parameters (Murata et al. 1991; Yuasa et al. 1996).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Styrene Exposure and Sensory and Motor Function in Gulf Coast Residents

Werder

Sandler

Richardson

et al. 2019

Environ Health Perspect

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“…It has been debated since the early 1990s that styrene, especially low dosage (20-50 ppm) styrene, results in neurotoxicity35) but with the accumulation of the neurotoxic evidence induced by styrene, it is generally accepted that exposure to styrene can induce peripheral nerve disturbance, including a decrease in peripheral nerve conduction velocity in workers', 1,12,14,17,20,38,39) or in laboratory animal S5, 26,40) Little is known about the mechanism by which styrene influences neurophysiology.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurophysiological Changes in Rats Subchronically Treated with Styrene or Its Metabolites

Misumi¹,

Nagano

Zhao³

et al. 2000

Journal of Occupational Health

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Oita Medical University-The purpose of this study was to clarify the causative agent(s) in the peripheral neuropathy induced by styrene. Styrene 600 or 300, and its metabolites; hippuric acid 600 or 300; mandelic acid 300; styrene oxide 100; mg/kg were subcutaneously injected into rats for 10 to 12 wk. The changes in maximum sensory conduction velocity (SCV), maximum motor conduction velocity (MCV), and motor distal latency (DL) in the rat's tail nerve were tested. Compared with the control group, decreases in MCV, SCV, and an increase in DL were observed in the rats injected with styrene 600, styrene oxide 100 and mandelic acid 300 mg/kg. No significant changes were found in the rats treated with hippuric acid 300 or 600 mg/kg. The MCV and SCV values in the styrene oxide 100 and mandelic acid 300 mg/kg groups were significantly lower, and DL values were significantly longer than those in the styrene 600 mg/kg group. It is presumed that the neuropathy caused by styrene is related to the neurotoxicity of its intermediate metabolites, namely mandelic acid and styrene oxide. It appears that the neurotoxicity of mandelic acid needs to be further evaluated in styrene-produced neuropathy. (J Occup Health 2000; 42: 328-335)

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“…The data for mutagenicity are mixed and the data are inadequate to classify it as a mutagen. 74 Occupational exposure to styrene can result in various health effects not only on the central and peripheral nervous system [75][76][77] especially impairment of colour vision 78,79 and hearing ability 80 but also on the respiratory tract, 81 liver, kidneys 82,83 and skin. 84 Those health defects are reported to occur at a relatively low dose, and the reduction of individual exposure to styrene is essential in those industries making fibreglass reinforced plastics with styrene.…”

Section: Health Hazardsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainability and human health issues pertinent to fibre reinforced polymer composites usage: A review

Zaman

Gutub

Soliman

et al. 2014

Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites

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The specific properties of fibre reinforced polymers give them a lot of advantages over traditional materials but the long life of polymeric composites poses serious environmental threats raising sustainability concerns. The other issue of importance concerning the innovators and environmentalists in the mass usage of this material is its health impacts on human beings. This paper thus attempts to highlight and surface out the issues related to fibre reinforced polymers’ sustainability and their health impacts on human beings, by reviewing past studies on the subject, to examine critically the extensive body of published data, prior observations and ideas on the subject in order to identify and analyse those features that are intrinsic and unique to fibre reinforced polymers. This would thus serve as a conceptual model for future research on fibre reinforced polymer composites sustainability and health concerns.

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Study of urinary mandelic acid concentration and peripheral nerve conduction among styrene workers

Cited by 20 publications

References 5 publications

Environmental Styrene Exposure and Sensory and Motor Function in Gulf Coast Residents

Environmental Styrene Exposure and Sensory and Motor Function in Gulf Coast Residents

Neurophysiological Changes in Rats Subchronically Treated with Styrene or Its Metabolites

Sustainability and human health issues pertinent to fibre reinforced polymer composites usage: A review

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