Mixed solvent exposure and XXXX . A study of painters.

@entity75 @entity73 @entity303 @entity194 @entity2055
In recent years, the possible role of occupational solvent exposure as a cause of chronic effects on the brain has been a matter of increasing concern. The present study was undertaken with the purpose of further investigating this problem, trying to minimize confounding owing to effects of recent solvent exposure and a 'healthy worker' effect. This was accomplished by studying a historical cohort of painters. The material consists of a random sample of 85 painters, and as a non-exposed control group of 85 bricklayers, selected in the same way. Parts of the study are based on this sample supplemented by a sample of 9 painters and 14 bricklayers, selected among subjects with a high degree of complaints on @entity73 . On the basis of a detailed interview on previous solvent exposure, the painters were divided into three groups with low, medium and high solvent exposure, respectively. As signs of @entity75 we used the degree of @entity303 and performance in psychometric tests as assessed at a neuropsychological examination; the degree of @entity2055 as assessed from clinical neurological tests; and the degree of @entity194 as assessed from CT-scans of the brain. CT-scans were performed only on a specially selected subsample. The degree of @entity303 , @entity2055 , and @entity194 increased significantly with the degree of solvent exposure. A similar, but non-significant association was found for the relation between performance in psychometric tests and solvent exposure. The degree of @entity303 , of @entity2055 , and of @entity194 were positively associated with each other, suggesting that they reflect different aspects of a common underlying factor, an @entity75 . A review of the literature compared with the results of the present study suggests that a number of studies may have been biased towards negative findings owing to the inclusion in the study material of large proportions of subjects with a solvent exposure that is too little to increase the risk of an @entity75 . Conflicting results between different studies on performance in psychometric tests may also arise from insufficient adjustment for primary intellectual level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
