Vestibular and balance findings in nonsymptomatic workers exposed to styrene and dichloromethane.

Publisher: Informa Healthcare Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101140017 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1708-8186 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14992027 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Int J Audiol Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: London : Informa Healthcare
Original Publication: Hamilton, Ont. : BC Decker, c2002-

Methylene Chloride/*adverse effects ; Occupational Diseases/*chemically induced ; Postural Balance/*drug effects ; Sensation Disorders/*chemically induced ; Solvents/*adverse effects ; Styrene/*adverse effects ; Vestibular Diseases/*chemically induced ; Vestibule, Labyrinth/*drug effects; Adult ; Analysis of Variance ; Asymptomatic Diseases ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nystagmus, Optokinetic/drug effects ; Nystagmus, Physiologic/drug effects ; Occupational Diseases/diagnosis ; Occupational Diseases/physiopathology ; Occupational Exposure ; Poland ; Pursuit, Smooth/drug effects ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Saccades/drug effects ; Sensation Disorders/diagnosis ; Sensation Disorders/physiopathology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Time Factors ; Vestibular Diseases/diagnosis ; Vestibular Diseases/physiopathology ; Vestibular Function Tests ; Vestibule, Labyrinth/physiopathology ; Videotape Recording

Objective: The aim of our study was to assess the vestibular and balance system in non-symptomatic workers exposed to styrene and dichloromethane at the workplace.
Design: Subjects underwent videonystagmography including saccades, smooth pursuit (SP), optokinetic test (OKN), gaze nystagmus assessment, bithermal caloric test, and static posturography.
Study Sample: Study groups included 74 workers in plastics manufacturing, aged 40 (SD 8) years, exposed to styrene and dichloromethane, and the reference group of 49 non-exposed subjects, aged 36 (SD 10) years.
Results: More than 60% of exposed and non-symptomatic workers revealed abnormal results of vestibular tests. Saccadic latency elongation (p = 0.0098), lower gain in SP (p = 0.0037) and OKN (p = 0.0000) were more common in the exposed group, as well as lower reactivity (p = 0.0337) and mean slow phase velocity of caloric nystagmus. Static posturography revealed higher sway velocities in the test with eyes closed, on foam and worse results of three from five limit of stability tests. No relationship between chemicals exposure and vestibular and balance test results was found.
Conclusions: In principle, our findings indicate the possibility of high-level deficits in the central part of vestibular system. Lower vestibular reactivity may suggest that bilateral vestibular hypofunction might also be the possible consequence of solvent exposure.

0 (Solvents)
44LJ2U959V (Styrene)
588X2YUY0A (Methylene Chloride)

Date Created: 20110921 Date Completed: 20120202 Latest Revision: 20151119

20240829

10.3109/14992027.2011.599872

21929376