Time may not fully attenuate solvent-associated cognitive deficits in highly exposed workers.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To test the effects of lifetime occupational solvent exposure, as measured by dose and timing, on performance on multiple cognitive tests among retired French utility workers.

Methods

A total of 2,143 retirees in the GAZEL cohort underwent cognitive testing in 2010. Lifetime exposure to chlorinated solvents, petroleum solvents, and benzene was assessed using a job exposure matrix. We modeled effects of lifetime solvent dose, timing of last exposure, and a combination of these metrics on risk for cognitive impairment.

Results

Thirty-three percent of participants were exposed to chlorinated solvents, 26% to benzene, and 25% to petroleum solvents. High exposure to solvents was significantly associated with poor cognition; for example, those highly exposed to ch

SUBMITTER: Sabbath EL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4032208 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature