Cognitive Impairment and Peripheral Neuropathy by Mixed Organic Solvents in Spray Painters Working in a Shipbuilding Industry

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Exposure to organic solvents becomes a common problem to workers of heavy industries in Korea. A number of volatile organic solvents which are frequently used in painting can cause various derangements of the nervous system, especially cognitive impairments and peripheral neuropathy. METHODS: This study was carried out on 190 workers as a control group who had never been exposed to organic solvents and on 674 spray painters with long-term exposure to organic solvent mixtures. The major components of organic solvent mixtures were determined. All subjects underwent neurological examination as well as routine physical check-up after completing questionnaires on general, musculoskeletal, neuropsychiatric and neurological systems. Subjects with abnormal findings on neurological examination related with the exposure of organic solvent mixtures took further neuropsychological and neurophysiological tests. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of cognitive impairments and of peripheral neuropathy in the exposed group were significantly higher than the control group (9.5% vs 2.1% and 2.1% vs 0%, respectively). High exposure group (more than 2.64 of cumulative exposure index, CEI) showed also higher prevalence of cognitive impairments and of peripheral neuropathy than low exposure group (cognitive impairments; 12.3% vs 6.4%, peripheral neuropathy; 2.3% vs 1.8%). Most common cognitive impairments were attentional deficit, and abnormal sense on the extremities or face was most common symptom of the peripheral nervous system. CONCLUSION: This study is the first large-scale, case-control study extensively evaluating cognitive impairments and peripheral neuropathy related with volatile organic solvent mixtures in spray painters working in a shipbuilding industry in Korea. The results show that the prevalence rates of cognitive impairments and of peripheral neuropathy are relatively low, but clearly related with the exposure extent of organic solvents.