A clinical, neurophysiological and behavioral study of female workers exposed to 1,1,1-trichloroethane.

Abstract

A clinical, neurophysiological and behavioral study of female workers exposed to 1,1,1-trichloroethane. by Maroni M, Bulgheroni C, Cassitto MG, Merluzzi F, Gilioli R, Foa´ V and FaA', V. A clinical, neurophysiologioal and behavioral study of female workers exposed <to l,l,'l-trichloroethane. Scand. j. work environ. & health 3 (1977) 16-22. Twenty-two f'smaLe \Subjects working in a factory in which l,l,l ....trichloroethane was the only solvent 'lIiOOd were '~IlIVest1g,aJted by means of oJ,inicaJl, neurDphysiologiC'al and psychometric methods so ,that 'tJhe lIleuroOOxicilty of the Bolrvent could be evaLuated. On ,the basis of the ambiJent air conoenwtions (If l,l,l-tmic<hLoroethane rangdng from llO ,to 990 ppm, the wOIi~ers were divided Wo tlihree~isk g'l"oups and cDmpared w1th a refeI1ence g,roup. No signifuoant d1fferenoe was ohs,er;ved between Ithe exposed ,and unexposed females with respect to clinical features, maximal motor conduction v,elocitY,conduotion ,velocity of slow fibers, and psychometric darta. The most frequent complaillits of the WOI1~eI1S were of the "neurotic" type with a slightly higher, but not significant, difference 'in the exposed g,roup. The results obtained faJVor :the absence 'of a manifest neurotoxic ,effect 'of 1,1,1-trich!loroethWle under the specific work oOllJditions of ;the IDves;tig<lltion; generaBy unfavorable wonk conditions seem to hav,e played a PI1OIIli:nent role m the genesis of the neurotic complaints. The importance of a global methodological approach in the study of work-related risks, paI1ticuLarly :in neurological ,and psychologimrl surveys, is stressed.

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

“…Psychomotor function has been the most popular subject of study in this field; consequently, most findings have also been in this area. Detrimental psychomotor effects have been noticed after exposure to trichloroethylene, styrene, solvent mixtures such as paint solvents, and jet fuel [Lindstrom, 1973;Hanninen et al, 1976;Hane et al, 1977;Maroni et al, 1977; Knave et d, 19781. Disturbances in short-term memory have been noticed after long-term exposure to trichloroethylene and solvent mixtures [Chalupa, 1958;Binaschi et al, 1976;Hanninen et al, 19761. sive long-term exposure to various industrial solvents.…”

Symptoms of car painters with long-term exposure to a mixture of organic solvents.

“…The questions dealing with general symptoms were formulated so that they covered symptoms revealed in earlier studies on solvent exposure, ie, unusual tiredness, fatigue, sleeping difficulties, impaired memory, concentration difficulties, vegetative symptoms, disturbances in vigilance, dizziness, and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy (2,3,7,9,10,16,22,27). Acute symptoms were probed with questions about irritation of the mucous membranes and skin, and the "prenarcotic" effects of solvents (15,18,19,23).…”

Astrogliosis in the cerebral cortex of gerbils after long-term exposure to 1,1,1-trichloroethane.

“…Although no adverse effects on the central nervous system were observed in man after chronic exposure to I, I, l-trichloroethane (24,35), exposure to other solvents, such as ethanol, toluene and dichlorornethane, are known to cause cortical impairment (17,31,53). Since long-term exposure to ethanol mainly affects the anterior parts of the cerebral cortex in man (37), different cortical regions were examined in this investigation.…”

“…However, little is known of the neuroto xicity of the compound. Studies on workers in occupational settings have been made, and no adverse effects on the central nervous system were observed after chronic exposure (24,35). However, the exposure levelsin these studies were relatively low.…”