New Evidence of Neurological Effects Solvent Exposure Less than Occupational Exposure Limit

A recently reported clinical study provides new evidence that solvent exposure less than the occupational exposure limit adversely effects the nervous system. Investigators recruited dockyard workers, including painters, and compared them to community controls from a previous cross sectional study. Indices of cumulative and intensity based exposure to solvents were calculated for all subjects. Alcohol, drug, and smoking histories were obtained. Colour vision was tested. Increasing annual exposure to solvents was significantly associated with reduced colour vision (p=0.029). Impairment of colour vision was not associated with neuropsychological symptoms. No significant association was found between acquired impairment of colour vision and genetic differences in solvent metabolizing enzymes. The investigators concluded that exposure to mixed solvents is associated with impairment in colour vision, the risk increases with increasing exposure, the risk of impairment of colour vision was not altered in this study by the presence of different genetics.

Semple S, Dick F, Osborne A, Cherrie JW, Soutar A, Seaton A, Haites N, Impairment of colour vision in workers exposed to organic solvents. Occup Environ Med 2000 Sep;57(9):582-587

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