Choice Reaction Time in Workers Exposed to Styrene Vapour

Abstract

<jats:p> <jats:sup>1</jats:sup> Behavioural effects of occupational exposure to vapour from styrene-based resin were investigated in 10 female workers with a portable test of choice reaction time. Testing was carried out both at the beginning and end of the day's shift. </jats:p><jats:p> 2 Uptake and metabolism of styrene were assessed by monitoring post-shift urinary mandelic acid excretion rates. By using these data workers were allocated to three groups reflecting zero, low )r high exposure. </jats:p><jats:p> 3 After exposure slowing of reaction times was found in those with the highest mandelic acid excretion rates, whereas a slight improvement or no change was found in those with low or zero exposure. </jats:p><jats:p> 4 Subsequent improvements in extraction and ventilation in the workroom were shown to be associated with both decreased mandelic acid excretion and absence of long reaction times in those previously most heavily exposed. </jats:p>

Styrene Impairs Serial Spatial Reversal Learning in Rats

“…It should be noted, however, that while memory impairment figured prominently in the latter study, other nonmnemonic effects were also observed, and the pattern of effects documented by Lindstrom et al (1976) more closely implicated visual-motor dysfunction. Further indications of motor disturbance have also been reported in humans exposed to styrene (Harkonen et al, 1978;Lindstrom, 1980; Mackay and Kelman, 1986;Moller et al, 1990).…”

Styrol [MAK Value Documentation in German language, 2001]

“…2 Vg/ml und sanken anschließend mit Halbwertszeiten von 2 bzw. 41 Minuten ab [15]. Bei einer Exposition von 80 ml/m 3 über 6 Stunden wurden venöse Styrol-Blutkonzentrationen von 0,9 Vg/ml gefunden [14].…”

“…150 ml/m 3 [40] zeigte sich die Verlängerung der Reaktionszeiten in Verhaltenstests als einziger auffälliger Unterschied zwischen Styrol-exponierter Gruppe und Kontrollgruppe. Die Verlängerung der Reaktionszeiten korrelierte mit der Höhe der Mandelsäureausscheidung im Harn [41]. Eine Verbesserung der Reaktionszeiten zeigte sich 4 Tage, eine weitere Verbesserung 35 Tage nach Expositionsende [42].…”