Neurobehavioral tests used in NIOSH-supported worksite studies, 1973-1983

Between 1973 and 1983, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published 11 studies which reported the neurobehavioral effects of chronic exposures to industrial chemicals among working groups. This paper reviews the objectives, testing methods, findings and conclusions of these studies. The studies employed a single rationale for selecting tests--tests sensitive to the types of effects reported for the chemical under study were utilized in each case. As a result, different sets of tests were used for different studies. This strategy is distinct from the approach suggested in the other reports in these proceedings which advocate the use of a uniform test battery. The wide variety of neurobehavioral effects produced by chemicals found in the environment argues for a rationale of tailoring test selection in many situations, particularly those where the range of expected effects has been fairly well established for the chemical under study.