[Chronic exposure to styrene and psychiatric symptomatology: a case-control descriptive study]

Although the acute psychiatric consequences exerted by Styrene and other aromatic hydrocarbons are abundantly described, the effects produced by a low-dosages chronic exposure are not known, in spite of the wide employment in the field of industrial production. The aim of this study is to evaluate the psychiatric symptoms in a group of subjects exposed to styrene in comparison with a control group, not exposed to the substance.

Twenty two qualified workers, divided into 11 subjects in charge of welding and resin tapping exposed to styrene, and 11 not exposed to neurotoxic substances, were evaluated through the Symptom Check List Revised (SCL-90-R), a scale for the global self-evaluation of psychiatric symptomatology.

The statistical tests, herein utilized, showed a significant prevalence for the dimensions somatization and psychoticism in the exposed subjects to styrene as compared to the non-exposed subjects.

The results of this study, although limited by the paucity of the sample, emphasize the importance of an early diagnosis and evaluation of the clinical predictors in subjects exposed to styrene. The relatively low concentration levels of styrene in the working area of the subjects exposed underlines the opportunity to arrange preventive evaluation strategies for a prompt intervention in those cases with a clear syndromic presentation.