An investigation of the neurobehavioural effects on workers exposed to organic solvents

Forty-five workers exposed to the solvents xylene and toluene in varnishing processes in a major heavy electrical industry were studied to find the effect of this exposure on different parameters of behaviour. These were immediate and delayed memory, visual ability, visual learning and psychomotor ability. The findings were compared with those from subjects who were not exposed. Immediate memory and delayed memory were affected among both directly and indirectly exposed workers as compared with those in the controls which remained unaffected. Visual intelligence and memory were most affected by exposure. Psychomotor ability was significantly affected among the directly exposed workers, as compared with the occasionally exposed group which did not show any significant difference from the control workers.