Occupational exposure to toluene inhalant among young car-paint-workers

ABSTRACT

Forty young car-paint-workers from Mahalla El Kobra, Gharbia Governorate were selected from those who recently joined work [less than one week] at car workshops and were subjected to the following a] complete personal, family, and medical history taking, b] Complete medical examination, c] Psychological assessment battery of 24 items, d] Complete blood picture, liver function tests, blood urea, serum calcium, potassium, magnesium, and acid phosphatase, and hippuric acid level in urine. Results showed disturbed general behavior. Of the studied cases 89.7% suffered from irritability, 68.9% from talk slow, 34.5% from depressed mood, 65.5% had illusionary misinterpretations, 72.4% had visual hallucinations, 24.2% had distorted body form perception, and 55.2% showed impaired recent memory. Serum magnesium and Hippuric acid level in urine showed significant increase after three-month period of exposure. Attention is drawn to the necessity for educational programs in this area