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Published on: September 13, 2024
Cognitive impairment and olfactory panic from occupational exposure to VOCs
1Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW), Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. abe_reinhartz@yahoo.ca
Background:
A Canadian government clerical worker in her early thirties developed frontal lobe dysfunction from inhalation of volatile organic compounds off-gassed during an office renovation.
Methods:
Pulmonary function, bronchial provocation, allergy testing, and a brain (SPECT) scan were performed.
Results:
SPECT scanning showed frontotemporal hypoperfusion and neuropsychologic testing revealed deficits in verbal learning and poor organizational memory.
Conclusions:
A significant component of this worker's impairment was the development of "olfactory panic," a debilitating aversion to odor accompanied by symptoms of panic. The Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal granted entitlement for her cognitive difficulties and olfactory panic as a result of her toxic exposure.
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