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Document ID (ISN)78766
CIS number 02-824
ISSN - Serial title 0271-3586 - American Journal of Industrial Medicine
Year 2002
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Chouanière D., Wild P., Fontana J.M., Héry M., Fournier M., Baudin V., Subra I., Rousselle D., Toamain J.P., Saurin S., Ardiot M.R.
Title Neurobehavioral disturbances arising from occupational exposure to toluene
Bibliographic information Feb. 2002, Vol.41, No.2, p.77-88. 39 ref.
Abstract The current eight-hour time-weighted threshold limit value for toluene in France is 100ppm. However, neurotoxicity resulting from long-term exposure to levels below 50ppm is suspected. A cross-sectional study was carried out in two printing plants on 129 blue collar workers to explore the effects of low levels of toluene exposure. With 231 samples of ambient air, toluene concentration was estimated from 0 to 18ppm in Plant A (offset) and from 2 to 27ppm in Plant B (heliogravure). The workers also answered a self-administered questionnaire on neurotoxic symptoms, and performed psychometric tests on a computer-assisted version of the Neurobehavioural Evaluation System (NES) battery. Significant relationships were found only between present exposure and Digit Span Forwards performance and Digit Span Backwards performance. No other association was found between estimated cumulative exposure and either psychometric performances or neurotoxic symptoms.
Descriptors (primary) printing industry; toluene; subthreshold exposure; long-term exposure; neuropsychic effects; symptoms
Descriptors (secondary) neurotoxic effects; threshold limit values; nervous function tests; duplicating; disturbances of memory; offset printing; France
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceFrance
Subject(s) Occupational pathology
Broad subject area(s) Chemical safety
Browse category(ies) Diseases of the nervous system
Aromatic hydrocarbons
Printing, photography and photocopying industry