van Thriel Christoph, Kiesswetter Ernst, Schäper Michael, Blaszkewicz Meinolf, Golka Klaus, Juran Stephanie, Kleinbeck Stefan, Seeber Andreas
Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Institut für Arbeitsphysiologie an der Universität Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany.
Neurotoxicology. 2007 Mar;28(2):347-55. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2006.03.008. Epub 2006 Mar 24.
Historically, acute solvent neurotoxicity was strongly related to reversible narcotic states that could be detected by neurobehavioral tests (e.g., simple reaction time). Nowadays, the occupational exposure to chemicals is markedly reduced and the avoidance of chemosensory effects is more important for the regulation of solvents. Exemplarily, this study examines if the chemosensory perception of 2-ethylhexanol is capable to distract performance in demanding neurobehavioral tasks. In two experiments three time-weighted average concentrations of 2-ethylhexanol (C(TWA): 1.5, 10, and 20 ppm) were investigated. In experiment A (n=24) variable concentrations over time (4h) were used, experiment B (n=22) investigated constant concentrations. The experiments were conducted in a 29 m3 exposure laboratory. Cross-over designs with randomized sequences of exposures were used. Among the 46 male participants 19 subjects reported enhanced chemical sensitivity; the other 27 subjects did not show this personality feature. During the exposure periods neurobehavioral tests were presented twice (beginning; end), the intensity of chemosensory perceptions were rated thrice. The intensity of chemosensory perceptions showed a clear dose-dependency. Subjects' performance in the vigilance test was not affected by the different exposures. Moreover, the results of neurobehavioral tests measuring executive function were neither affected by the C(TWA) concentration nor by the exposure peaks. With increasing C(TWA), a subgroup of the chemically sensitive subjects showed deteriorated accuracy in a divided attention task. Especially the 20 ppm conditions were very annoying. Only during the constant 10 ppm condition the time courses of the annoyance and nasal irritation ratings indicated some adaptation. In general, with the applied neurobehavioral tests distractive effects of acute 2-ethylhexanol exposures up to 20 ppm could not be confirmed. In sensitive groups such distractive effects of irritating solvents might be conceivable and moreover, in cooperation with researchers from cognitive neuroscience more sensitive functions and tests should be developed and incorporated.
从历史上看，急性溶剂神经毒性与可逆性麻醉状态密切相关，这种状态可通过神经行为测试（如简单反应时间）检测出来。如今，职业性化学物质暴露显著减少，对于溶剂的监管而言，避免化学感觉效应更为重要。例如，本研究考察了2-乙基己醇的化学感觉是否会干扰高要求神经行为任务中的表现。在两个实验中，研究了2-乙基己醇的三个时间加权平均浓度（C(TWA)：1.5、10和20 ppm）。实验A（n = 24）使用随时间变化（4小时）的可变浓度，实验B（n = 22）研究恒定浓度。实验在一个29立方米的暴露实验室中进行。采用了具有随机暴露顺序的交叉设计。在46名男性参与者中，19名受试者报告化学敏感性增强；其他27名受试者未表现出这种个性特征。在暴露期间，神经行为测试进行了两次（开始时；结束时），化学感觉强度进行了三次评分。化学感觉强度呈现出明显的剂量依赖性。受试者在警觉性测试中的表现不受不同暴露的影响。此外，测量执行功能的神经行为测试结果既不受C(TWA)浓度影响，也不受暴露峰值影响。随着C(TWA)的增加，化学敏感受试者的一个亚组在分心任务中的准确性下降。特别是20 ppm的条件非常令人烦恼。只有在恒定的10 ppm条件下，烦恼和鼻刺激评分的时间进程显示出一些适应性。总体而言，通过所应用的神经行为测试，无法证实高达20 ppm的急性2-乙基己醇暴露具有干扰作用。在敏感群体中，刺激性溶剂的这种干扰作用可能是可以想象的，此外，应与认知神经科学的研究人员合作，开发并纳入更敏感的功能和测试。
