| 조선소 도장부서 근로자의 혼합 유기용제 노출에 의한 인지기능 장애와 말초신경병증 |
| 주인수 김장성 허 균 김재일 이경종*정호근*김광수 †, 주인수 김장성 허 균 김재일 이경종*정호근*김광수 † |
| 아주대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실,산업의학교실* 고신대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실 † |
| Cognitive Impairment and Peripheral Neuropathy by Mixed Organic
Solvents in Spray Painters Working in a Shipbuilding Industry |
| In Soo Joo, M.D., Jang Sung Kim, M.D., Kyoon Huh, M.D., Jae Ill Kim, M.D. Kyung Jong Lee, M.D.*, Ho Keun Chung, M.D.*, Kwang Soo Kim, M.D.
† |
| Department of Neurology, Occupational and Environmental Medicine *, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon
Department of Neurology, Kosin University School of Medicine, Pusan |
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| Abstract |
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Background : Exposure to organic solvents becomes a common problem to workers of heavy industries in Korea. A number of volatile organic solvents which are frequently used in painting can cause various derangements of the ner-vous system, especially cognitive impairments and peripheral neuropathy. Methods : This study was carried out on 190 workers as a control group who had never been exposed to organic solvents and on 674 spray painters with long-term exposure to organic solvent mixtures. The major components of organic solvent mixtures were determined. All subjects underwent neurological examination as well as routine physical check-up after completing questionnaires on general, musculoskeletal, neuropsychiatric and neurological systems. Subjects with abnormal findings on neurological examina-tion related with the exposure of organic solvent mixtures took further neuropsychological and neurophysiological tests. Results : The prevalence rates of cognitive impairments and of peripheral neuropathy in the exposed group were significantly higher than the control group (9.5% vs 2.1% and 2.1% vs 0%, respectively). High exposure group (more than 2.64 of cumulative exposure index, CEI) showed also higher prevalence of cognitive impairments and of peripher-al neuropathy than low exposure group (cognitive impairments; 12.3% vs 6.4%, peripheral neuropathy; 2.3% vs 1.8%). Most common cognitive impairments were attentional deficit, and abnormal sense on the extremities or face was most common symptom of the peripheral nervous system. C o n c l u s I o n s : This study is the first large-scale, case-control study extensively evaluating cognitive impairments and peripheral neuropathy related with volatile organic solvent mixtures in spray painters working in a shipbuilding industry in Korea. The results show that the prevalence rates of cognitive impairments and of peripheral neuropathy are relatively low, but clearly related with the exposure extent of organic solvents.
J Korean Neurol Assoc 18(3):311~318, 2000
Key Words : Mixed organic solvents, Prevalence rate, Cognitive impairment, Peripheral neuropathy |
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