Effects of trichloroethylene on the human vestibulo-oculomotor system

Ten healthy volunteers were subjected to a vestibulo-oculomotor test battery before, during and 1 hour after trichloroethylene exposure. The concentration of trichloroethylene in inspiratory air was 32-78 ppm (176-429 mg/m3). The concentration of trichloroethylene in venous blood was followed throughout the experiment. The mean pulmonary uptake was estimated. Each test person was also subjected to a control experiment, breathing air free of trichloroethylene. A decreased ability to visually suppress the vestibulo-oculomotor reflex during sinusoidal stimulation was noticed during trichloroethylene exposure. One hour after exposure the test subjects showed a decreased maximum velocity of the voluntary saccade and a decreased ability to follow a sinusoidally moving target.