Peripheral neuropathy in styrene-exposed workers

Abstract

BackgroundThe toxicity of styrene on the peripheral nervous system is still debated. Cases The paper presents two cases of peripheral se~lsorirnotor neuropathy in styrene-exposed workers. Exposure, evaluated by biological monitoring, ranged between 100 and 150% of the current linlits proposed by the American Conference of Governme~ltal Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). The subjects complained of leg weakness and numbness, cramps, and paresthesia. Electrophysiology revealed a moderate peripheral sensorimotor neuropathy of a deinyelinating type. Color-vision testing showed a subclinical deficit. Cornmon inherited and acquired causes of peripheral ~leuropathy and dyschromatopsia other than styrene were ruled out by personal history, medical examination, laboratory data, and chest X-ray. C O~C~U S~O~S The results suggest that long-term occupational exposure to e~lviro~lmental levels of styrene that are equal, or slightly above, the ACGIH limits can induce a clinical form of peripheral neuropathy and a subclinical impairment of color vision. As a consequence, a careful reappraisal of the real preventive meaning of the current ACGIH occupational limit for styrene, at least on an individual basis, is needed.

Exposure to hazardous air pollutants and the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

“…Associations between occupational exposure to metals and pesticides and an increased risk of ALS, after adjustment for smoking, education, and other exposure groups were reported by our previous study (Malek et al, 2014). Possible mechanisms for the observed association between ambient air concentrations of aromatic solvents and the risk of ALS include peripheral neuropathy (Gobba et al, 1995) or autonomic nervous system activity dysfunction (Murata et al, 1991;Beck et al, 2005). Detoxification pathways may also be affected by geneetoxicant interaction, specifically exposure to solvents/chemicals (Morahan et al, 2007).…”

Occupational styrene exposure and acquired dyschromatopsia: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Moreover, one study was excluded because its primary findings were incorporated into a larger, cohort study by the same research group . In aggregate, 15 studies were selected for qualitative synthesis (Table ). Among the 15 included studies, eight were eligible for meta‐analysis based on the criteria described above in the Methods section (Figure ).…”

Neurophysiological Changes in Rats Subchronically Treated with Styrene or Its Metabolites

“…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.…”