Flicker fusion test and occupational toxicology: performance evaluation in workers exposed to lead and solvents

1 In a group of 108 workers professionally exposed to low lead levels and in 35 shoe factory workers exposed to a mixture of solvents, neurotoxic effects were evaluated by means of Critical Flicker Frequency, used as single test of psychophysiological performance. 2 A statistically significant lowering of CFF threshold was observed and, in the lead exposed group, this decrease is related to the biological parameter zinc protoporphyrin. 3 The usefulness of CFF measure in environmental toxicology, together with other neurophysiological tests, is considered.