Psychological test performance during experimental challenge to toluene and n-butyl acetate in cases of solvent-induced toxic encephalopathy
(2000) In Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health 26(3). p.219-226- Abstract
- OBJECTIVES: This study determined whether performance in neurobehavioral tests deteriorates during subjectively annoying chemical challenge below known neurotoxic thresholds among persons with toxic encephalopathy with subjective hypersensitivity to chemicals.
METHODS: Subjects with symptoms and previous neuropsychological test results compatible with toxic encephalopathy (TE) of either type 2A (N=12) or 2B (N=12) and unexposed referents (N=12) were challenged in an exposure chamber. In a counterbalanced design, the subjects were exposed on 2 occasions to increasing air concentrations of n-butyl acetate and toluene at levels well below the thresholds for neurotoxic effects. Attention and motor speed tests were given (i)... (More) - OBJECTIVES: This study determined whether performance in neurobehavioral tests deteriorates during subjectively annoying chemical challenge below known neurotoxic thresholds among persons with toxic encephalopathy with subjective hypersensitivity to chemicals.
METHODS: Subjects with symptoms and previous neuropsychological test results compatible with toxic encephalopathy (TE) of either type 2A (N=12) or 2B (N=12) and unexposed referents (N=12) were challenged in an exposure chamber. In a counterbalanced design, the subjects were exposed on 2 occasions to increasing air concentrations of n-butyl acetate and toluene at levels well below the thresholds for neurotoxic effects. Attention and motor speed tests were given (i) in room air outside the chamber before the challenge, (ii) in room air inside the chamber before the exposure, (iii) at 12 ppm (44 or 56 mg/m3), and (iv) at 48 ppm (at 180 or 228 mg/m3).
RESULTS: For both substances the TE groups showed a slight increase (deterioration) in the simple reaction-time task during chemical exposure, but not in the complex reaction-time task or in the digit symbol test of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Contrary to reference subjects, the TE subjects did not show any improvement or learning effect in the digit symbol test over the chamber phases. n-Butyl acetate tended to affect cognitive functioning more obviously than toluene did. Suggestion or expectancy effects were not observed in any group in the clean-air baseline conditions.
CONCLUSIONS: The results do not support the notion that men with subjective hypersensitivity to chemicals would be more affected than healthy men regarding cognitive functioning during annoying solvent exposure below thresholds for acute neurotoxic effects. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/1117233
- author
- Österberg, Kai LU ; Örbaek, Palle LU ; Karlson, Björn LU ; Seger, Lena ; Åkesson, Bengt LU and Bergendorf, Ulf LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2000
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- cacosmia, chemical sensitivity, exposure chamber, neuropsychological test
- in
- Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
- volume
- 26
- issue
- 3
- pages
- 219 - 226
- publisher
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:10901114
- scopus:0033934147
- ISSN
- 0355-3140
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- dbbd8928-d546-4b5a-9e80-b34faa81d4ac (old id 1117233)
- alternative location
- http://www.jstor.org/stable/40967052
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 11:44:14
- date last changed
- 2022-01-26 17:28:50
@article{dbbd8928-d546-4b5a-9e80-b34faa81d4ac,
abstract = {{OBJECTIVES: This study determined whether performance in neurobehavioral tests deteriorates during subjectively annoying chemical challenge below known neurotoxic thresholds among persons with toxic encephalopathy with subjective hypersensitivity to chemicals.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
METHODS: Subjects with symptoms and previous neuropsychological test results compatible with toxic encephalopathy (TE) of either type 2A (N=12) or 2B (N=12) and unexposed referents (N=12) were challenged in an exposure chamber. In a counterbalanced design, the subjects were exposed on 2 occasions to increasing air concentrations of n-butyl acetate and toluene at levels well below the thresholds for neurotoxic effects. Attention and motor speed tests were given (i) in room air outside the chamber before the challenge, (ii) in room air inside the chamber before the exposure, (iii) at 12 ppm (44 or 56 mg/m3), and (iv) at 48 ppm (at 180 or 228 mg/m3).<br/><br>
<br/><br>
RESULTS: For both substances the TE groups showed a slight increase (deterioration) in the simple reaction-time task during chemical exposure, but not in the complex reaction-time task or in the digit symbol test of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Contrary to reference subjects, the TE subjects did not show any improvement or learning effect in the digit symbol test over the chamber phases. n-Butyl acetate tended to affect cognitive functioning more obviously than toluene did. Suggestion or expectancy effects were not observed in any group in the clean-air baseline conditions.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
CONCLUSIONS: The results do not support the notion that men with subjective hypersensitivity to chemicals would be more affected than healthy men regarding cognitive functioning during annoying solvent exposure below thresholds for acute neurotoxic effects.}},
author = {{Österberg, Kai and Örbaek, Palle and Karlson, Björn and Seger, Lena and Åkesson, Bengt and Bergendorf, Ulf}},
issn = {{0355-3140}},
keywords = {{cacosmia; chemical sensitivity; exposure chamber; neuropsychological test}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{3}},
pages = {{219--226}},
publisher = {{Finnish Institute of Occupational Health}},
series = {{Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health}},
title = {{Psychological test performance during experimental challenge to toluene and n-butyl acetate in cases of solvent-induced toxic encephalopathy}},
url = {{http://www.jstor.org/stable/40967052}},
volume = {{26}},
year = {{2000}},
}