Neurotoxicidad en trabajadores petroquímicos con bajos índices de exposición a disolventes orgánicos

Abstract

Objective. To estimate the neuropsychological performance and its association with exposure to organic solvents (OS) among petrochemical workers in Mexico. Materials and methods. Cross-sectional study including 203 workers: 102 exposed to OS and 101 non-exposed. Neuropsychological performance was evaluated with Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery. Exposure to OS was evaluated with the metabolites from exposure to toluene, xylenes and benzene. Results. Exposed workers presented with a worse performance in all tests (p<0.05), except for Santa Ana test.This was corroborated with regression models; workers exposed to OS had a higher number of mistakes and performed the tests in longer time (p<0.05), together with having greater odds of neurotoxicity symptoms (OR: 2.93; 95%CI: 0.96, 8.96). Conclusions. Occupational exposure to organic solvents, even at levels allowed by current Mexican standards, was related to an impaired neuropsychological performance.