Impaired odor perception in tank cleaners.

Abstract

AHLSTROM R, BERGLUND B, BERGLUND U, LINDVALL T, WENNBERG A . Impa ired odor percept ion in tank cleaners. Scand J Work Environ Health 12 (1986) 574-581. The olfa ctor y perception of 20 men (tank cleaner s) exposed to petroleum products (while cleaning oil tanks) was examined . Offi ce workers and watchmen were used as referents (N = 20 + 20). They were matched with regard to sex, age, and smok ing habit s. Odor detection thresholds and the perceived odo r intensity of four odorous stimuli, pyridine, dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), n-butanol , and heating oil vapor (gas pha se of heat ing oil heated to +40 c q , were determined. The results suggested that the tank cleaners had higher absolute odor thresholds for n-butanol and oil vapor than the referents . The psychophysical function of the tank cleaner s and referents differed for all the tested substances in respect to odor intensity. The tank cleaners displayed an odor deficit analogous to the hearing loss known as "loudness recruitment," ie, normal perception of strong stimuli but impaired perception of weak stimuli. This odor deficit was therefore named "odor intensity recruitment" and seems, in tank cleaners, to be associated with occupational exposure to oil vapor.

Olfactory function in workers exposed to styrene in the reinforced‐plastics industry

“…Occupational exposure to styrene affected sensitivity to styrene, but this effect is expected and consistent with specific, exposure-induced effect of adaptation-which can be observed in a variety of field settings and also in the laboratory following even brief exposures to volatile chemicals [Ä hlstrom et al, 1986;Dalton and Wysocki, 1996;Wysocki et al, 1997]. The present study revealed, however, that this exposure-related decrement was more pronounced among older workers than younger ones.…”

Perceived odor, irritation, and health symptoms following short-term exposure to acetone

“…A concurrent study on many of these same individuals revealed that detection and irritation thresholds for another substance, 1-butanol, did not differ as a function of exposure to acetone . Although exposure to some organic solvents has been correlated with more general olfactory impairments [Ahlström et al, 1986;Schwartz et al, 1989], no such effect was found from long-term exposure to acetone. The lack of general olfactory dysfunction following occupational exposure to acetone is consistent with the failure to observe gross morphological changes in the olfactory epithelium following chronic acetone exposure [Morgott, 1993].…”

Saúde auditiva de trabalhadores expostos a ruído e inseticidas

“…7,9,10 Para a maioria dos diferentes grupos de compostos químicos suspeitos de serem neurotóxicos, as propriedades ototóxicas nunca foram testadas. 1,2,11 Entre esses grupos estão os agrotóxicos. Estima-se que dos 600 princípios ativos de pesticidas mundialmente disponível no mercado, 50 mil formulações comerciais são utilizadas na agricultura.…”