Occupational exposure lo trichloroethylene (TCE) and other solvents impairs neurobehavioral performance. Use of well water contaminated with TCE and solvents has been associated with excessive symptoms, cancers, birth defects and impaired blink reflex. We extended these observations by measuring the neurophysiological (NPH) and neuropsychological (NPS) status of subjects who used water contaminated with 6 to 500 ppb of TCE for 1 to 25 years.
The 170 well-water exposed subjects who resided in southwest Tucson, Arizona overlying the Santa Cruz River aquifer, were compared to 68 referent subjects for NPH and NPS tests. Also, 113 histology technicians (HT) were referents for blink reflex latency only. Affective status was assayed by a Profile of Mood States (POMS).
Exposed subjects were statistically significantly impaired when compared to referents for NPH tests. These impairments included sway speed with eyes open and closed, blink reflex latency (R-1), eye closure speed, and two choice visual reaction time. NPS status was statistically significant impaired for Culture Fair (intelligence) scores, recall of stories, visual recall, digit span, block design, recognition of fingertip numbers, grooved pegboard and Trail making A and B. POMS scores were elevated.
Prolonged residential exposure to well-water containing TCE at lower levels than occupational exposures, but without time away from exposure for metabolism and excretion of toxins, was associated with neurobehavioral impairment.
Arlien-SoborgP. (1992). Solvent Neurotoxicity. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, Inc.
3.
BarretL.GarrelS.DanelV.DebraJ.L. (1987). “Chronic trichloroethylene intoxication: A new approach by trigeminal-evoked potentials?”Arch. Environ. Health42:297–302.
4.
BaumA.GatchelR.J.SchaefferM.A. (1983). “Emotional, behavioral, and physiological effects of chronic stress at Three Mile Island.”J. Consult. Clin. Psych. 51:565–572.
5.
BlairA.DecorifleP.GraumanD. (1979). “Causes of death among laundry and dry-cleaning workers.”Am. J. Pub. Health69:508–511.
6.
ByersV.S.LevinA.S.OzonoffD.M.BaldwinR.W. (1988). “Association between clinical symptoms and lymphocyte abnormalities in a population with chronic domestic exposure to industrial solvent-contaminated domestic water supply and a high incidence of leukemia.”Cancer Immunol. Immunother. 27:77–81.
7.
CattellR.B.FeingoldS.N.SarasonS.B. (1941). “A culture free intelligence test II: Evaluation of cultural influences on test performance.”Journal Educational Psychology32:81–100.
8.
CattellR.B. (1951). “Classical and standard score IQ standardization of the IPAT: Culture free intelligence scale 2.”J. Consulting Psych. 15:154–159.
9.
DefalqueR.J. (1961). “Pharmacology and toxicology of tricholorethylene.”Clin. Pharm. Therap. 5:665–688.
10.
FeldmanR.G.Chirico-PostJ.ProctorS.P. (1988). “Blink reflex latency after exposure to trichloroethylene in well water.”Arch. Environ. Health43:143–148.
11.
FeldmanR.G.WhiteR.F.CurrieJ.N.TraversP.H.LessellS. (1985). “Long-term follow-up after single toxic exposure to trichloroethylene.”Am. J. Indust. Med. 8:119–126.
12.
GoldbergS.J.LebowitzM.D.GraverE.J.HicksS. (1990). “An association of human congenital cardiac malformations and drinking water contaminants.”J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 16:155–164.
13.
HaneM.AxelsonO.BlumeJ.HogstedtC.SundellL.YdreborgB. (1977). “Psychological function changes among house painters.”Scand. J. Work Environ, and Health3:91–99.
14.
KilburnK.H.WarshawR.ThorntonJ.C. (1987). “Formaldehyde impairs memory, equilibrium, and dexterity in histology technicians: Effects which persist for days after exposure.”Arch. Environ. Health42:117–120.
15.
KilburnK.H.WarshawR.H. (1992a). “Prospective study of neurobehavioral effects of formaldehyde and solvents on histology technicians.”Environ. Res. 58:134–146.
16.
KilburnK.HWarshawR.H. (1992b). “Are hearing loss and balance dysfunction linked in construction iron workers?”Br. J. Indus. Med. 49:138–141.
17.
KilburnK.H.WarshawR.H. (1992). “Chronic neurobehavioral effects of environmental exposure to chemicals from residence near a waste oil reprocessing facility.” JAMA submitted a.
18.
KilburnR.H.WarshawR.H. (1992). “Neurobehavioral impairment downwind from a petroleum refinery with a desulfurization unit: Low dose hydrogen sulfide exposure.” Brit. Med. J. submitted b.
19.
LagakosS.W.WessenB.J.ZelenM. (1986). “An analysis of contaminated well water and health effects in Woburn, Massachusetts.”Journ. Am. Statist. Assoc. 81:583–596.
20.
LevineR.ChitwoodD.D. (1985). “Public health investigations of hazardous organic chemical waste disposal in the United States.”Environ. Health Perspect. 62:415–422.
21.
MatthewsG.CleelandC.S.HopperC.L. (1970). “Neurological patterns in multiple sclerosis.”Dis. of Nervous Syst. 31:161–170.
22.
McFarlaneA.C. (1988). “The phenomenology of post-traumatic stress disorders following a natural disaster.”J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 176:22–29.
23.
MillerG.SpassowskiM.HenschlerD. (1975). “Metabolism of trichloroethylene in Man III. interaction of trichloroethylene and ethanol.”Arch. Toxicol. 33:173–189.
24.
MillerJ.A.CohenG.S.WarshawR.ThorntonJ.C.KilburnK.H. (1989). “Comparison of choice (CRT) and simple reaction times (SRT) in laboratory technicians.”Am. J. Indust. Med. 15:687–697.
25.
MorrowL.A.RyanC.M.HodgsonM.J.RobinN. (1990). “Alterations in cognitive and psychological function after organic solvent exposure. T JOM. 32:444–450.
26.
NarahashiT. (1986). “Nerve membrane ionic channels as the target of toxicants.”Arch. Toxicol. Suppl. 2:3–13.
27.
NeedlemanH.G.L.GunnowC.LevitonA. (1970). “Deficits in psychological and classroom performance in children with elevated lead levels.”New Eng. J. Med. 300:689–695.
28.
Educational And Industrial Testing Service. (1981). Profile of Mood States. San Diego, California: Educational and Industrial Testing Service. 1971/1981.
29.
ReitanR.M. (1966). “A research program on the psychological effects of brain lesions in human beings.” In: International Review of Research in Mental Retardation. (EllisN.R., ed.). New York: Academic Press.
30.
ReitanR.M. (1958). “Validity of the trail-making test as an indicator of organic brain damage.” Percept. Motor Skills.
31.
RyanC.M.MorrowL.A.BrometE.J.ParkinsonD.K. (1987). “Assessment of neurophsychological dysfunction in the workplace: Normative data from the Pittsburgh Occupational Exposures test battery.”J. Clin. Exper. Neurophsych. 9:665–679.
32.
SavolainenH. (1977). “Some aspects of the mechanisms by which industrial solvents produce neurotoxic effects.”Chem. Biol. Interactions18:1–10.
33.
SavolainenK. (1980). “Combined effects of xylene and alcohol on the central nervous system.”Acta. Pharmacologica et Toxicologica46:366–372.
34.
SwanS.H.RobinsJ.M. (1986). “Comment on reference 10.”J. Am. Stat. Assoc. 81:604–609.
35.
TriebigG.SchallerK.H.ErzigkeitH.ValentinH. (1977). “Biochemische Untersuchungen und psychologische Studien an chronisch trichlorathylen—belasteten personen unter berucksichtigung expositionsfreier intervalle.”Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health38: 149.
36.
UptonA.C.KneipT.TonioloP. (1989). “Public health aspects of toxic chemical disposal sites.”Ann. Rev. Public Health10:1–25.
37.
ValciukasJ.A.SingerR.M. (1982). “The embedded figures test in environmental and occupational neurotoxicology.”Environ. Res. 28:183–198.
38.
Von LindernI.Van BraunM. (1989). Assessment of historical exposures to contaminated drinking water sources in the southside/airport area of Tucson, AZ 1952–1981. Terragraphics Environmental Engineering, Moscow, Idaho.
39.
WarshawR.H.HanscomB.KilburnK.H. (1993). “A reproducible trigger for measurement of trigeminal latencies elicited by a glabellar tap.”Environ. Res. in press.
