Computed tomography and psychometric test performances in patients with solvent induced chronic toxic encephalopathy and healthy controls.

Patients with chronic toxic encephalopathy caused by occupational exposure to organic solvents and diagnosed between 1976 and 1981 have been re-examined during a follow up period of 21-88 months (median 48). Thirty two patients underwent computed brain tomography (CT), were retested psychometrically, and the results were compared with a group of age matched control subjects from the same socioeconomic level. The age of the patients was 33-69 (median 55) and they had been exposed to organic solvents for 7-50 years (median 26).

Acute and long-term airway hyperreactivity in aluminium-salt exposed workers with nocturnal asthma.

Nineteen young male workers exposed occupationally from 1975-1977 to inhaled particles of aluminium fluoride or sulphate at 2 plants, developed nocturnal wheezing and breathlessness with reversible airways obstruction after an average of 4 months employment. At standardized methacholine provocation tests (MPT), 17 of 19 workers with normal spirometry showed airway hyperreactivity with a fall of FEV1 of greater than or equal to 15% after 0.1% methacholine.

Effects of long-term exposure to solvents in the paint industry. A cross-sectional epidemiologic study with clinical and laboratory methods.

The effects of organic solvents on 50 male workers exposed 5-46 (mean 18) years were studied with a cross-sectional design. Referents were matched pairwise according to age and education. An analysis of confounders confirmed good comparability between the two groups.