Study of urinary mandelic acid concentration and peripheral nerve conduction among styrene workers

The relationship between exposure to styrene and nerve conduction velocities was investigated in 32 workers occupationally exposed to styrene. There was a dose-dependent relationship between urinary mandelic acid and ulnar and peroneal motor distal latencies (MDLs). The ulnar and peroneal MDLs of subgroup B (urinary mandelic acid > or = 250 mg/l) were significantly longer than those of subgroup A (urinary mandelic acid < 250 mg/l)(p < 0.05), and the referent group (p < 0.03). After adjusting confounding factors, urinary mandelic acid had a significant positive relationship with ulnar and peroneal MDL. Our study suggests that a low level of styrene, below the 50 ppm exposure limit of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), involves the risk of inducing adverse effects on the peripheral nervous system. The study also indicated that motor distal latency is a sensitive parameter of toxic peripheral neuropathy.